Shedfield should move into new constituency, civic chiefs decide (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Shedfield should move into new constituency, civic chiefs decide

5:48pm Friday 11th November 2011 in Bishop's Waltham By Andrew Napier

Shedfield should move into new constituency, civic chiefs decide

SHEDFIELD should go into the Fareham constituency and not try to remain with Winchester, civic chiefs have decided.

Councillors have overturned a proposal that the village near Bishop’s Waltham should stay in the constituency instead of moving into the new Fareham and Horndean seat.

The Boundary Commission is proposing that switch as part of the nationwide plan to reduce the number of constituencies to 600 and make all about the same size in population.

Cllr Fiona Mather proposed Shedfield staying with Winchester after taking soundings in the village, saying at Council last Wednesday (NOV2) residents had an affinity to Winchester But other councillors asked why Shedfield and not other places?

And council leader George Beckett said: “I don’t like Fareham any more than anybody else does” but added places such as Shedfield, Wickham, Whiteley, Boarhunt and Southwick were part of the PUSH area and all the economic activity would be coming from the south, from Fareham and Portsmouth. So it made more sense for them to be represented by an MP from Fareham.

Cllr Malcolm Wright supported the Shedfielders who want to stay with Winchester: “People like to be associated with Winchester. Who are PUSH? They are nobody. They do not represent people.”

Cllr Kelsie Learney said: “It is perfectly understandable that Shedfield wants to stay with Winchester. Most of us try to stay as far away from it (Fareham) as we can.”

Cllr Frank Pearson, who represents Swanmore and Newtown, drew the biggest laugh, saying; “People in my ward, their affinity is with ...Droxford Rural District Council,” which was abolished in 1974.

The councillors agreed overwhelmingly not to oppose Shedfield going into the proposed Fareham and Horndean constituency.