New political map for Rossendale Borough Council

Rossendale is set to have new boundaries for its council wards.

New wards for Rossendale
Click map for high resolution version
Credit: contains Ordnance Survey data (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2023

The Local Government Boundary Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It has reviewed Rossendale to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively.

The Commission has published final recommendations for changes in Rossendale. It says residents should be represented by 30 councillors. This is different from the previous 36 councillors.

There will be 10 wards. These wards will each be represented by three councillors. All ward boundaries will change.

Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:

“We are very grateful to people in Rossendale. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.  

 “We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.” 

93 people and organisations made comments to help decide the new wards. Changes in response to what local people said include: 

• For Greenfield & Eden, Haslingden and Helmshore. The Council suggested alterations to our draft recommendations for the names of two wards. The Council noted that Greenfield Memorial Gardens were a key community facility, and that they would wish them to be retained in the name of a ward. 
• The Council also suggested that the entirety of the Town Centre of Haslingden was within the northern ward, and suggested that this ward be re-named ‘Haslingden’ rather than ‘Haslingden North’. 

The Commission was persuaded by these proposals, and adopted the name changes as part of our final recommendations.

The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website.

The changes become law once Parliament has approved them. Staff at the council will ensure that the arrangements are in place for the May 2024 elections.

Ends/

Notes to editors: 

This consultation relates to the arrangements for local government elections. It is separate from consultations that are currently taking place across England on arrangements for parliamentary elections.

For further information contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525 / 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk

An interactive map is available here.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to:

• Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors
• Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities
• Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances