By Ex-Cleethorpes councillor calls boundary commission a ‘disaster waiting to happen’
A former Cleethorpes councillor has shared their view on why the Boundary Commission, which would see Grimsby and Cleethorpes become one constituency, is a bad idea.
Under the plan, Scartho, Humberston, and New Waltham would be grouped together with Immingham, Barton and Brigg into the South Humber constituency.
The goal of the merger is to balance MP’s seat sizes so that each has roughly 74,000 electors, ensuring votes have equal weight.
Former councillor Matthew Brown has called the plans a “disaster waiting to happen”
He stated: “No one area is better than the other. Nevertheless, each area has a different ideology, social and economic needs and identity which makes them incompatible in a single Parliamentary Constituency.
“Despite their shared history, they are not the same and each town’s residents have always been clear that they see things differently. Ask any local and they will always tell you with such passion and pride that the dividing line between Cleethorpes and Grimsby is Park Street.
“Residents of both towns fear that the needs of each area will be overlooked in favour of the other. If the Boundary Commission goes ahead with its current proposals there is a real risk that the much larger town of Grimsby will force on Cleethorpes an MP that it does not want or identify with. This is, due to the differences in the community makeup.”
When speaking about the lack of responses from other councillors and MPs he added: “The politicians themselves, apart from the Scartho Councillors who did publicly engage with their residents, have not been seen or heard from and appear not to have consulted with their residents to gain an informed view of what the public actually want. This raises the obvious question ‘Are the political parties/politicians using this review to meet their needs and ensure they gain the maximum seats possible?’”
“Furthermore, what has become clear is that the councillors are not willing to put their head above the parapet and put what they think. Instead, they are hiding behind ‘collective responsibility and decision making with a view submitted on their behalf by The Council and the political parties. Only Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has had the courage to give his view.
“Whilst this appears to be at odds with the community he represents at least he has had the courage to speak out publicly and be held accountable. Where is his Grimsby counterpart Lia Nici MP, and where are the local councillors? The silence is deafening for our communities, political leaders.”
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers previously gave support to the plans, objecting only to the proposed South Humber name in favour of Northern Lincolnshire.
The second round of consultations will run until April 4 and locals can have their say on the website.
What do you think of the plan? Let us know in the comments!
