Residents question logic over constituency changes
Sarah Ryles said she was 'shocked' at the changes
- Published
Residents in a new constituency, which is spread across Staffordshire, have questioned the logic behind boundary changes.
The new seat of Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge has been questioned among some local people, who feel the areas, which span 25 miles, have little in common.
Veteran Conservative MP Bill Cash announced last year that he would not stand again in the Stone seat after first being elected to Parliament in Stafford in 1984.
People living in the area said Stone had its "own identity" and "stands out as its own constituency".
Stone is "big enough" to not be linked with other areas, said one resident
Great Wyrley was formerly part of the South Staffordshire seat, while Penkridge was previously part of the Stafford seat.
Michael Brough is a third generation Stone resident and said the town had "its own identity".
He said: "It is big enough to not be linked with other areas.
"I don’t see any synchronisation between the places in the new seat. We have more relations with Stafford if anything."
Ian Joyce added: "I don't know why they’ve done this. I know in the past they have changed the boundaries because it suits one political party.
"No offence to anyone from Great Wyrley, but I’ve never been there and I don’t know it."
Luke Derbyshire said the areas should not be grouped together for convenience
Sarah Ryles added: “I haven’t had anything through the letterbox so I am quite shocked. Stone has grown and grown in the last 15 years. It’s a brilliant place.”
Carol Heartwell has lived in Penkridge for 47 years.
She said: “We wouldn’t go to Great Wyrley, we don’t have anything to do with it. We think Penkridge should stand on its own.”
Carol Heartwell, from Penkridge, said she would not visit Great Wyrley
Luke Derbyshire, who works at a coffee shop in the town, said Stone "stands out as its own constituency".
He said: "People in these areas don't share the same views on where they want their money to be spent. I don’t think we should group them together for convenience."
Another Stone resident, who did not wish to be named, said he could see the logic behind the changes.
He said: "I understand they're trying to even up the populations. I do notice it is extremely rural, it avoids Cannock and Stafford."
The Boundary Commission for England periodically reviews all the constituencies and the changes are intended to cover similar population sizes in each seat.
See a full list of candidates standing in Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge.
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