Town and parish council shake-up ahead of elections

Final recommendations will be be published on 6 September

Changes to town and parish councils in Telford & Wrekin are set to take place ahead of the next local elections in 2027.

There have been few alterations to the rural parishes since 1974, while urban ones had their last big change in 1988.

Draft recommendations have now been published ahead of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Boundary Review Committee meeting on 19 July.

The final round of consultation will then take place until 16 August with the final recommendations being published on 6 September.

One of the requests has been made by Newport Town Council which wants changes made in the south of the town.

This includes the new Bloor Homes estate in Chetwynd Aston and Woodcote and three streets that are currently in the Church Aston parish.

“We find ourselves in a position where this council is now providing services for an additional 500 plus new dwellings that reside in the borough boundary, but not in the parish,” said councillor Thomas Janke, who represents South Ward on the town council.

“People identify as Newport residents, yet contribute not a single penny of precept towards the services that this council provides and that those residents take advantage of.

“With respect to ancient local parish boundaries, housing developments in this area are assessed and approved based on their perceived location within Newport’s boundaries, not Chetwynd Aston & Woodcote for example. This is because the A518 and A41, which border Newport, serve as a more natural boundary.

Elsewhere, Donnington and Muxton, currently represented by a single parish council, could be split to join other neighbouring parishes.

A new Weald Moors parish could also be created to the north of the borough.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.