BERKSHIRE is to face a massive parliamentary constituency shake-up if recommendations from the Boundary Commission are adopted.
Across the south east, there will be an increase from 84 to 91 MPs.
The changes include creating a new Wokingham County Constituency seat that almost maps the borough’s make-up. This folds parts of Theresa May’s Maidenhead constituency, including Hurst, Hare Hatch and parts of Wargrave, into the seat’s boundaries. This will be 70,235 voters.
However, a new Earley and Woodley seat will see parts of Sonning and Woodley lumped in with Whitley in Reading and Shinfield, Grazeley and Earley.
And the Bracknell Boroughseat will be divided by the Nine Mile Ride, heading into Crowthorne as it does currently. Its electorate will be 70,247.
Much of Reading, including Caversham, Newtown and Emmer Green, will be in its own seat, merging parts of Reading East and West constituencies. This will be called Reading Borough Constituency and have an electorate of 71,283.
However, Tilehurst, Theale, Norcot and Bucklebury will become part of a Mid Berkshire County Constituency, with an electorate of 69,999.
The changes are part of a review commission in January this year and increases the number of parliamentary constituencies in England from 533 to 543. The aim is to make the number of voters in each constituency roughly the same.
The overall number of constituencies remains the same across the UK – 650.
Now, the proposals are out for consultation until August 2. Comments are welcomed on everything from the new boundary lines to the names of the constituencies.
Two more rounds of public consultation will take place next year, and the final recommendations are to be presented to parliament by July 2023.
Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Today’s proposals mark the first time people get to see what the new map o Parliamentary constituencies might look like. But they are just the Commission’s initial thoughts.
“Help us draw the line to make the number of electors in each Parliamentary constituency more equal.
“Each constituency we recommend is required by law to contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, meaning there will be significant change to current boundaries.
“We want to hear the views of the public to ensure that we get the new boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies right.”
He added that local knowledge helps shape constituencies that best reflect a local area.
“It is easy to get involved – view our proposals and have your say on our online consultation portal – www.bcereviews.org.uk,” he said.
Wokingham County Constituency wards
Arborfield
Barkham
Charvil
Emmbrook
Evendons
Finchampstead North
Finchampstead South
Hurst
Norreys
Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe
Twyford
Wescott
Winnersh
Wokingham Without
Earley and Woodley Constituency Wards
Bulmershe and Whitegates
Church
Coronation
Hawkedon
Hillside
Loddon
Maiden Erlegh
Shinfield North
Shinfield South
Sonning
South Lake
Whitley
Bracknell Borough Constituency wards
Bullbrook
Central Sandhurst
College Town
Crown Wood
Crowthorne
Great Hollands North
Great Hollands South
Hanworth
Harmans Water
Little Sandhurst and Wellington
Old Bracknell
Owlsmoor
Priestwood and Garth
Warfield Harvest Ride
Wildridings and Central
Reading County Constituency wards
Abbey
Battle
Caversham
Katesgrove
Mapledurham
Minster
Park
Peppard
Redlands
Southcote
Thames
