Final recommendations published for Shropshire’s new parliamentary boundaries

Two Shropshire constituencies will have new names at the next general election, after final recommendations to re-draw England’s parliamentary map were published today.

Ludlow is set to be re-named ‘South Shropshire’ in a move the Boundary Commission says better reflects the many rural towns the constituency includes, after earlier plans to change it to ‘Ludlow and Bridgnorth’ were scrapped.

Meanwhile Shrewsbury will lose Atcham – both from its name and from the constituency. The boundary is set to close in more tightly to the south and south east of the county town.

The report also confirms the retention of The Wrekin name, which earlier drafts said should be changed to ‘Newport and Wellington’, to better align with Boundary Commission policy.

The Boundary Commission, which has also published recommendations for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, says its recommendations will even up the number of voters each MP represents.

Under the plans, the West Midlands region is set to lose two MPs – dropping from 59 to 57 – but Shropshire will retain five.

The new South Shropshire constituency encompasses the whole of the current Ludlow constituency, as well as the Shropshire Council wards of Burnell and Severn Valley, which are currently included in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

The report says the commission considered an alternative proposal to keep Severn Valley with Shrewsbury in exchange for moving the Rea Valley ward – which contains Pontesbury and Minsterley – into South Shropshire.

It also considered splitting Severn Valley between the two constituencies, but ultimately stuck with its initial proposal to avoid splitting the parish council areas of Atcham and Berrington.

North Shropshire is set to shrink, with the Shropshire Council wards of Hodnet and Cheswardine moved into The Wrekin.

The report says: “We have noted the latest consultation responses with evidence of local ties between Hodnet and Cheswardine wards and the North Shropshire town of Market Drayton.

“North Shropshire constituency must, however, lose a large number of electors in order to bring it within the permitted range.

“Notwithstanding the local ties to Market Drayton, responses from these two wards did not suggest any viable alternative configuration that would see them retained in the North Shropshire constituency without causing significant disruption to other constituencies and/or breaking local ties elsewhere.”

There are only minor boundary changes affecting Telford, which reflect recent council ward boundary shifts.

The report says proposals were put forward to move the Hadley and Leegomery ward of Telford & Wrekin Council into the Telford constituency in exchange for Priorslee, but the commission ultimately decided Priorslee’s links were stronger.

The changes will take affect at the next general election, which must be held no later than January 2025.