Evidence of the need for a Maesbury Parish

The extracts below are from 'Periodic and further electoral reviews; Guidance and procedural advice; 2nd edition, July 2002' issued by the Electoral Commission.

Comments about Maesbury are added in red//italics

Appendix C

“What do you mean by evidence?”

Background

1 Our guidance . . . emphasises that representations which provide evidence in support of a particular proposition are likely to carry more weight than those which simply assert a point of view.

2 . . . the greater the level of electoral imbalance which would result from the proposals, the more persuasive the evidence will need to be.
Maesbury Parish will cause no electoral imbalance at all as it will not change any electoral boundaries. It is proposed to follow the same boudaries as the current Maesbury with Aston Ward.

The nature of evidence

3 So what do we mean by evidence? . . . Arguably, the most straightforward is that which is based on geographic considerations or communication links. . . .

The map on the right shows the boundaries of the current Maesbury with Aston Ward, wich is proposed to become Maesbury Parish.
There obvious geographic feature of the Ward, which distinguishes it from the rest of the current Rural Parish, is the flat landscape compared with the hill country west of the A483/Sweeney.
Communications links revolve around the cross roads between Maesbury Church and school, below the word Maesbury on the map - this has direct lanes to all parts of the proposed parish.
The Montgomery Canal provides a rather different, and historic, form of communication across the parish.

(4 ... n/a)

5/6/7 Rather more complex is evidence . . . on community identity. . . .what is the community, . . ?
Community identity can encompass a number of factors – history, socio-economic make-up and community of interest to name but a few. . . . community identity itself is not static, but can change over time. . . . how that sense of community manifests itself. Some pointers might include the presence of active social clubs or residents’ associations which draw their membership from a clearly defined area; . . . The location of . . . primary schools and other local services, and the use made of them, could also be relevant.

The history of the Maesbury area is well documented on this website, and clearly shows Maesbury as the natural focus of the local community for well over 1,000 years. A brief summary can be provided for the purposes of this report.

Community groups:
Maesbury Primary School
St. John's Church, Maesbury
Maesbury Women's Institute
Maesbury Community Action Group
Maesbury Post Office with shop & cafe and community facilities (opens June 2006)
- all of these serve the whole area of the proposed parish
- any more?

8 n/a

9 In determining the strength of local opinion on an issue, sheer numbers of signatures on petitions, or the number of proforma letters received are not necessarily a true guide. They may say more for the enthusiasm and competence of the organisers than for the real views of the signatories. In practice, a well-argued representation containing detailed evidence is likely to carry more weight . . .

In our particular case the 1997 Local Government Act does contain specific provision for a petition of 250 electors to force the district council to forward the application to the Secretary of State. We will need to follow that route - but the additional evidence will also be needed.

see Maesbury Pairsh Council.. ? and Parish Finances for more evidence

10 Occasionally, local interests may arrange public meetings in order to gauge the level of support or opposition to a proposal. The outcome of such meetings may be a better guide to public opinion. But even here, large attendances are unlikely to be conclusive; the proportion of the electorate attending, and the breadth of their interests, will be more significant than the absolute number. . . .

The January 2006 meeting of the Maesbury Community Action Group has already indicated support (about 40 people - 10% of the elctorate). Perhaps the views of other groups, such as the WI could also be sought.

11 n/a