The Boundary Commission would like to re-draw the Ward’s creating a large Rowlands Castle Ward with nearly half of Horndean included.
We feel that there are several reasons why this is a bad idea. The Rowlands Castle and Horndean communities have minimal overlap whether social, retail, business or demographic. Geographically we are miles apart and the potential harm to either community as a result of all the local councillors being elected from one community is significant (for example attempting to dump housing in an area outside of where they live).
The commission is unsure that the strength of community outweighs the criteria they have considered to identify their proposed boundaries compared to our very strong view that Horndean is kept separate from Rowlands Castle and we would like your thoughts. (Importantly, the view is consistent at Parish, District and County Council
levels)
We would like your help by voting below to show your thoughts.
Should the current Horndean and Rowlands Castle Wards remains as single wards with local changes to balance out the numbers or should the larger Boundary Commission ward as the proposed map below be applied? Please vote below!
The map below shows the new proposed red wards for Catherington, Downs, Murray and a combined Kings, Blendworth and Rowlands Castle (including the War Memorial and village centre).
horndeanmatters 
I am in agreement with the views of the local councillors. I can’t see any value add whatsoever in combining two “villages”. I have felt for many years that Horndean has little central heart for a village, it is divided by many factors, not least the A3. Whereas Rowlands Castle is a complete village, entire in every way, and whose house prices reflect that. I cannot see any amount of fairness being observed by a council that would have to incorporate the two village areas. There would always be the feeling that Horndean was the poor neighbour, the Us and Them, and therefore would never receive, gain or be improved upon with interest by that council or councillor. People are by nature very “tribal”, they are only interested in their own home ground. People choose to live where they are, Catherington for Catherington, Merchistoun, and Hazelton and central Horndean & Blendworth all having their own identity etc. Whilst I disagree with the Boundary Commission outcomes (both of them), I also cannot put forward any suggestion that would bring the parishes / local areas more together or how they could be managed fairly and well. Or at least better than they have been. A pot of worms – all of it in my view.
Hi Celia, Many thanks for the reply and please also send this to the boundary commission copying me in. Best wishes, Guy.
I presume you mean ‘housing’ not hosing and ‘representatives’…
Best
Still waiting for progress on surgery!
Hi Caroline, many thanks and I have updated! Sometimes I only get a chance to blog after a bottle or two of wind and spellchecker doesn’t make up for everything! as for the surgery, the railings are being installed to the front which means we are a few weeks away from a building regs certificate which will enable the transfer of the building. We will get there… Best wishes, Guy.
Had it not been for those 750 houses in LEOH spreading over two parishes this would never have happened
Hi Jean, The Rowlands Castle ward (without LEOH) is over 10% bigger than the average size so yes, this would have happened in any case and has nothing to do with LEOH. Best wishes, Guy.