BRAMSHOTT and Liphook Parish Council has agreed to write to the Electoral Boundary Commission (EBC), requesting to have three single member wards created within the electoral boundary of the parish, one for each district councillor.

The motion was proposed by its longest serving parish councillor, Michael Croucher, who has stood for the Lib Dems at the last and at previous elections.

It was supported by other councillors, who felt it would be fairer for the residents, who all have different issues in different parts of the parish.

Currently, the parish is classified by East Hampshire District Council as a single ward, which has three district councillors allocated to it. The number of councillors are based on the total number of voters within a defined area.

Mr Croucher pointed out the council and boundary commission are not proposing any changes to the number of councillors on the parish, district and county councils – or to the parish’s boundary.

He claimed the trend over the last couple of decades has been towards “single member wards,” where each ward has approximately 2,250 voters.

“On the data supplied by EHDC the current number of voters means the parish can have three wards - one for each councillor,” he said.

“Those of us who have stood for election will know, because we currently have one ward instead of three and you are obliged to print three times as much literature and deliver these to every house in the parish (more than 6,000 spread over 10 square miles), while with three wards you would only have to print a third of the number, and more importantly, only be required to deliver to a third of the total number of houses within the parish.

Mr Croucher added: “The current set up favours the larger political parties, who have, by their very nature, people who can deliver and more importantly, the money to pay for printing costs. They can also put up a block of three prospective councillors, which again, acts as a big disincentive to a single non-party candidate wishing to stand for election.

“There is also the problem that voters in each area in the parish don’t know who their local councillor is, as they have three to choose from. With three wards, the parish would be split into three defined areas, and if you live in that area you would know who your local councillor is.

Mr Croucher concluded: “The current one very large ward approach is anti-democratic and against the spirit of encouraging anybody to put themselves forward as a prospective councillor. It also acts as a big disincentive to those who live in the more rural settlements of Conford, Passfield and Bramshott, to stand for election as a single non-party candidate.

“Three wards would also allow for differing views within the community of the parish, and consequently, be more representative and reflective of the social groups within the parish.

“To this end, I would ask that parish councillors support my motion to request we have single member wards and, as such, we would ask the recommended three wards are created within our parish’s electoral boundary – one for each district councillor.”

The three current district councillors, Angela Glass, Bill Mouland and Rebecca Standish – all Conservatives – were opposed to the resolution.

In a statement they told The Herald: “Bramshott and Liphook is a diverse and growing parish which includes large housing estates, scattered hamlets and part of the South Downs National Park.

“We work as a team to make sure we cover every topic with which residents are concerned. The advantage is if one of us is away, one of the others will cover and make sure concerns and issues are directed to the right place. Similarly, we champion causes which are particularly relevant to us.

“We pool our resources to make sure our individual £4,500 councillor grants are properly targeted and fully spent on community projects – if one of us has used up an allocation, we ask the others if they have money available.

“Mr Croucher’s claim that ‘three times as much literature’ has to be printed than is necessary doesn’t make sense if all three names are on one leaflet.

“The Conservatives pride themselves on the fact that volunteers are ready and available to support candidates.

“Mr Croucher is a member of what could be described as a ‘larger political party’ - the Liberal Democrats. In the past, his leaflets have contained the names of all three Lib Dem candidates and we expect that to happen in the future.

“We think voters know who their local councillors are, and if they don’t, all they have to do is look up Bramshott and Liphook on the EHDC website and we are happy and willing to help.

“Bramshott and Liphook has a recent history of individuals putting themselves forward as single non-party candidates who, in some instances, have flooded the parish with leaflets. The results speak for themselves.”

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking for help drawing up a new pattern of council wards for East Hampshire District Council.

The consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will re-draw ward boundaries across the council area.

The boundary commission has also announced it is minded to recommend the council should have 44 councillors in the future – the same as the current arrangements. The commission now needs information from people and groups across East Hampshire to help it to produce a new pattern of wards to accommodate 44 councillors.