CHANGES are afoot in Swindon’s two parliamentary constituencies after plans to redraw boundaries across the UK were revealed.

Under the proposals, unveiled today by the Boundary Commission, the wards of Ridgeway and Wroughton and Wichelstowe would no longer be part of Swindon.

Instead, they would move from South Swindon to a new East Wiltshrie constituency, stretching south as far as Amesbury.

Swindon Advertiser:

South Swindon would gain Mannington and Western and Dorcan and Covingham from North Swindon, which is now seen as too large in terms of population.

Swindon Advertiser:

Royal Wootton Bassett would move from North Wiltshire to the Chippenham constituency and Cricklade and Malmesbury would form part of a new Cirencester and North Wiltshire constituency straddling two counties.

The proposal is aimed at ensuring constituencies are more equally balanced in terms of voter numbers.   

Of the 533 existing English constituencies, fewer than 10 per cent will remain unchanged under the proposals.  

The commission stressed the proposals, which open for an initial eight-week public consultation period, were provisional.  

It is not due to make its final recommendations to Parliament until July 2023.  

Commission secretary Tim Bowden said: “Today’s proposals mark the first time people get to see what the new map of parliamentary constituencies might look like. But they are just the commission’s initial thoughts.  

“We want to hear the views of the public to ensure that we get the new boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies right.”