Proposals for changes to Parliamentary Constituencies - final chance to comment

The Boundary Commission for England is undertaking an independent review of all constituencies in England. The number of electors within each constituency currently varies widely due to population changes since the last boundary review. The 2023 Boundary Review will rebalance the number of electors each MP represents, resulting in significant changes to the existing constituency map. As part of the review, the number of constituencies in England will increase from 533 to 543.

The target for each constituency is an electorate of around 73,000. As the Mid Sussex constituency, in which Ashurst Wood lies, now has over 85,000 electors, the size of the constituency has to be reduced.

There will therefore be a new constituency which will include areas currently in the constituencies of Mid Sussex, Wealden and Horsham (and therefore parts of East Sussex and West Sussex). It will be called East Grinstead and Uckfield. As well as the two towns it will include Ashurst Wood and other villages such as Forest Row, Nutley, Ardingly, Turners Hill, Horsted Keynes.

However, some parts of Forest Row will move to the renamed Sussex Weald constituency. This includes houses in Wall Hill Road, Homestall Road and Shovelstrode Lane. These areas will remain in the Hartfield ward of Forest Row Parish Council, but will be in the different parliamentary constituency.

Obviously balancing the numbers is not an easy job. Some areas will not feel they sit well within the new seat, as they feel more connected to a town or service centre in the neighbouring constituency.
The Commission has taken into consideration over 45,000 comments sent in by the public during the previous two stages of public consultation and has changed nearly half of its initial proposals based on this feedback. A third and final consultation on the new map of revised constituency proposals is open now until 5 December. The public are invited to view and comment on the new map at www.bcereviews.org.uk.

The Commission will send its final recommendations to Parliament by the 1st July 2023 so the new constituencies are likely to be in place before the next general election.