PROPOSALS to redraw Barnsley’s parliamentary constituency areas has prompted serious concern from the council and residents.
The size and shape of parliamentary boundaries are under review with the aim of creating more equally-sized constituencies in terms of population, and a reduction in the number of MPs from 650 to 600. Each constituency must have no fewer than 71,031 electors and no more than 78,507.
Barnsley’s 21 council wards would be carved up between six different parliamentary constituencies, meaning it would be represented by six different MPs under the major shake-up outlined by the Boundary Commission for England last September.
Barnsley Central would ‘grow’, taking in the Dodworth and Worsbrough wards, while other constituency areas would be carved up and lumped with wards in Doncaster, Sheffield, Wakefield or Kirklees. MP Angela Smith, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, would lose her seat in the changes.
Responses to the proposals, which can now be seen online following initial consultation last year, have been made by the public, councillors and Barnsley Council.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
