[HTS-members] Proposal to change the Taplow Parish Boundary

[Karl Lawrence]

Message from George Sandy, Chairman of the Taplow Parish Council 

Dear All

Please take a look at the PDF Reports below after which I hope you will be encouraged to write to the Boundaries Commission concerning their proposed changes to our Ward Boundary.

We recd. notice of this only recently and their recommendations are now open for consultation till 21 July 2014.

You will be aware the Govt's ambition is to drive down the cost of Local Government, and SBDC being a sound Conservative Council (39 cons. + 1 ind.) has opted to reduce its number of Cllrs from 40 to 28.  This requires changes to be made to both the Ward Boundaries

By clicking on the "Draft Recommendations Report. PDF" below you can see the proposed arrangements for the whole of the SBDC area, where the section dealing with Taplow starts on page 11 point 65 through to 74.

SBDC  agrees with all of the proposed changes with one exception, and that is the merging of Taplow with Dorney and Burnham South (Lent Rise)

It has been suggested therefore, to avoid this merger becoming absolute that we must record our objections both as a Parish Council, and as individuals, by writing to the address given below. 

Some reasons why Taplow’s Boundary should not be changed are;

- the Ward is defined by clear geographical features

- It is cleanly separated from Burnham by Green Belt land

- its borders are cleanly defined by the River Thames/M4/Marsh Lane/A4/Hitcham Road/Boundary Road from where it crosses over open countryside and woodland to its Northernmost borders at Wooburn Common Road

- it has a long historical tradition as a single-member ward and nothing would be gained by tacking it onto an area requiring a further two Cllrs. 

- the forecast electoral population figures for Taplow look exceedingly low in view of pending development projects within the ward 200 + homes on the Mill site 

- Taplow has a highly developed identifiable Community, is extremely social, and has many active residents associations, equestrian centres and sports clubs incl. rugby, football and cricket

- Hitcham & Taplow Society provides a parish-wide bonding of our community by arranging events such as The Mid-Summer Ox Roast/The Easter Egg Hunt/Carols-on-the-Green

- to merge Taplow with other parishes would be socially divisory

- it has it's own C of E School and a well attended St Nicolas Church

- has its own pub The Oak & Saw

- has its own Village Green and Village Hall which is frequented by local groups including Choirs, Amateur Dramatic, Ballet, Pilates, Yoga Cubs, Scouts and Brownies, Village Parties etc

- has two Conservation Areas

These are just a few reasons that you may wish to incorporate in a letter. No need to include all, and it's important that our letters don't look the same, so do try build in other original thoughts of your own. 

I would emphasise that I have been encouraged to object to this merger, not only personally, but also to obtain the support of a goodly number of other parishioners, and in writing to you I have the support of both the SBDC Cabinet and The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP.

It has been said, that if push came to shove, that if Taplow must be merged with any other electoral area it would be best, in terms of forming an identifiable and geographically logical area, that it should become linked with Dorney as we share the riverside. However, that may never happen, so in the meantime, we should strive to maintain the status quo and hopefully will succeed in persuading the Boundaries Commission accordingly

http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/22102/South-Bucks-summary-Apr-2014.pdf

http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/22111/SouthBucks-DraftRecommendations-Report.pdf

Please address your original letter to;
  Review Officer
  South Bucks Review
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for England
  Leyden House
  76-86 Turnmill Street
  London EC1M 5LG
  reviews at lgbce.org.uk 

  And send a copy to;

  Kully Tumber - Democratic & Electoral Services Manager
  SBDC
  Capswood
  Oxford Road
  Denham
  Bucks 
  UB9 4LH
  Kully.Tumber at southbucks.gov.uk

  The deadline for letters is 21 July 2014. they can be sent by email, and I too would appreciate being copied in.

  Thank you in advance for your support in this extremely important matter for I'm sure all of us are of one mind in wanting Taplow Parish to keep its individual character.

  George


     






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