Last year the Boundary Commission began its periodical review of the existing Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries. For Walsall, the initial proposal splits the existing Parliamentary constituency of Aldridge-Brownhills, Walsall South and Walsall North in two. Creating a Bloxwich and Brownhills Constituency and Walsall Constituency which includes Aldridge.
These boundaries also proposed that Willenhall be split and absorbed into Wolverhampton. Putting Short Heath and Willenhall North into Wolverhampton North East Constituency and Willenhall South, which includes Willenhall Town Centre, into Wolverhampton South East Constituency.
I encouraged residents from across Walsall Borough to contribute to the consultation and ensure that their views were heard.
Today, the Commission has published its revised proposals. Suggesting that Aldridge Brownhills remains intact whilst Walsall North is split in half in the the other direction – creating a new constituency of Walsall and Bloxwich, which joins Bloxwich, Blakenall and Birchills Leamore with Walsall Town Centre, Pleck, Palfrey and Paddock.
These proposals have come as a complete shock and sadly, the concerns of Walsall North residents have been disregarded.
The Boundary Commissions' new proposals threaten to rip apart our communities, especially Bloxwich which has ties with both Willenhall, Pelsall and Brownhills but doesn’t share the same identity as Walsall Town Centre. Whilst I recognise the importance of keeping Aldridge together in the neighbouring constituency, the surrounding areas have been sacrificed as a result. Whilst the Boundary Commission has kept Aldridge together, it failed to address concerns raised by Willenhall residents about the division and loss of Willenhall.
I strongly urge local residents to make their views known by 5th December to the Boundary Commission via their website https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/ or write to them at Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3BQ
It is important to note that none of these changes will take place until approved by Parliament in 2023 and until after the next General Election.