Nailsworth and Horsley voters have their say on plans to leave Stroud constituency

Residents in the two communities have been commenting on proposals by the Boundary Commission of England to transfer the area from the Stroud parliamentary constituency to The Cotswolds.

These current proposals would mean Nailsworth and Horsley join Minchinhampton, which is currently represented by Cotswold Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown.

While they would still be part of the Stroud district and under control of Stroud District Council, it would means voters in both areas would no longer be represented by Neil Carmichael, who currently has his constituency office in Nailsworth.

This major redrawing of the Stroud boundary is part of an effort to even up the number of residents in different constituencies and cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600.

While comments and counter proposals came in from all over the Five Valleys to the district-wide changes, by far the highest concentration were from in Nailsworth, where the idea has been met with support and anger from different parts of the community.

Twenty three different people responded to the Commission’s proposals, which have been published online as part of the first public consultation.

Chris Williamson of Fountain Street said: “I have recently opened a new business in Nailsworth and I think this is a terrible idea. The people of Nailsworth are much closer to Stroud than Cirencester and beyond.

“It will cause greater costs for Cotswold council that is already stretched resulting in the loss of free parking in the town, no investment in infrastructure and lost businesses.”

Stephanie Franklin from Windsoredge in Nailsworth said: “I enjoy being a part of the Stroud community and would like to be able to have my say by being part of the constituency. My children will be going to school in Stroud which is another reason I would like my vote to be counted in Stroud.

“Also if I needed emergency health care, I would be going to Stroud. I contribute to Stroud’s local economy and see no logic behind moving us into the Cotswolds when none of us would be part of that community.

“Please, please, please reconsider. It makes no sense to us, everyone uses Stroud. People very rarely visit Cirencester which is the nearest main town in the Cotswolds. It makes no sense.”

Horsley Road resident S Birch feared the changes would see Nailsworth become “a forgotten border town on the Cotswolds”.

“Nailsworth is an increasingly popular town and shares many facilities with Stroud, not least the secondary and further education facilities - Nailsworth has no secondary school,” she said.

“To divorce Nailsworth from Stroud, and append it to the huge constituency of Cotswolds governed from Cirencester, 15 miles away by indirect routes, with a council, schools, facilities, local and national government all irrelevant to Nailsworth, is frankly ridiculous.

“Nailsworth will be a forgotten border town on the Cotswolds. How will all our shared concerns with Stroud be dealt with from Cirencester? Please see sense and leave Nailsworth where it belong, with Stroud.”

Benjamin Weager of Newmarket Road agreed, saying: “I think it ridiculous to move Nailsworth to the Cotswold constituency. Nailsworth is only three miles from Stroud and is a natural part of the Stroud district council with which there are many economic and practical links. Our Stroud and District MP even has his office in Nailsworth.”

Hanover Gardens resident Yvonne Smith added: “The character of our town is similar to that of Stroud and its surrounding area. We are a Stroud Valley working town and have little in common with the very different character of the more "genteel" and tourist based Cotswold constituency.

“Due to this I feel that the views and interests of Nailsworth could not be satisfactorily represented or pursued by joining with Cotswold I feel strongly that this is further erosion of democracy.”

Laurence Smith from Millbank said: “Nailsworth should remain part of Stroud Constituency. I appreciate the need to reduce Gloucester City and add Quedgeley to Stroud but the 'knock-on' effect will cause disruption to strong community links.

“Boundary changes always create huge jig-saw difficulties but in this instance I believe everything possible should be done to keep Nailsworth within the Stroud Constituency.”

Horsley Parish Council also voiced its opinion, saying the village should remain in the Stroud Constituency, as it has “far stronger links historically, socially and commercially with Stroud than with Cotswolds”.

While a 22 of the 23 comments online were opposed to the plans, Roger Fenton from Beechwood Close said that the silent majority in Nailsworth was supportive of the change.

“As, in my experience, a tiny but very vocal minority will make its views powerfully felt against the proposed border change, I just wanted to put on record that I, like so many of the silent majority, am profoundly in favour of the proposed change,” he said.

“I hope you won’t be intimidated by pressure from the placard wavers.”

Mr Carmichael, who would have to relocate his office if the plans went ahead, has said previously that while he has enjoyed representing and working with the Nailsworth community, he supports the wider review and boundary changes.

In England, the number of constituencies will reduce from 533 to 501. The Boundary Commission for England is the independent and impartial body that is considering where the boundaries of the new constituencies should be.

Residents have until Monday March 27 to contribute their views in the second public consultation

Click here for the SNJ’s wider report on the changes. Or visit www.bce2018.org.uk for more information.