Every 8 to 12 years, the Boundary Commission for England recommends that the constituency boundary's in the country be updated to keep each parliamentary area roughly equal in terms of population covered, and also to group together populations that naturally fit together.

The current review will probably be completed this (2006) year (deadline, April 2007) and a report sent to the Secretary of State who puts it before Parliament. If Parliament approves, the new constituencies will be used at the first general election after that.

For Wiltshire, with its growing population, there's a recommendation to increase the number of seats from 6 to 7, with a new Chippenham seat taking the town of Chippenham from North Wilts, Bradford on Avon from Westbury, and Melksham from Devizes. Although these proposals were made as long ago as 2001, they've not taken effect yet as they missed the last "cycle" of changes.



It looks like the new constituency will be a close battle between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Local man Duncan Hames is the prospective candidate for the Lib Dems


Duncan Hames (right) at Melksham Station, September 2006

The Conservative candidate is Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, who has appeared on National TV as "The Black Farmer". He currently lives in Devon.


Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones meets students on their way to George Ward school, Melksham, September 2006

Both are excellent candidates (the author of this page has met each in person) and it's almost a shame we can't have 2 MPs.




Outline of constituency wards

Here's a detailed listing of the wards to be included - the numbers along side wards refer to their placement on the map; the cluster to the top of the constituency is the town of Chippenham.

From North Wilts:
Cepen Park
Chippenham Allington
Chippenham Audley
Chippenham Avon
Chippenham Hill Rise
Chippenham London Road
Chippenham Monkton Park
Chippenham Park
Chippenham Pewsham
Chippenham Redland
Chippenham Westcroft/Queens
24 Corsham
29 Lacock with Neston and Gastard
33 Pickwick

from West Wiltshire:
1 Atworth and Whitley
2 Bradford-on-Avon North
3 Bradford-on-Avon South
6 Holt
7 Manor Vale
8 Melksham North
9 Melksham Spa
10 Melksham Without
11 Melksham Woodrow
13 Paxcroft



WESTBURY - Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, some of Salisbury district

DEVIZES - Kennett, plus Bulford and Durrington

NORTH WILTS - Box to Cricklade including Malmesbury, Calne and Wootton Bassett

SALISBURY - Amesbury to the Hants / Dorset borders

SWINDON NORTH

SWINDON SOUTH


The following will take you away from this site:

More about boundary changes
Wiltshire plans in detail

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