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The Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2025, ISBN 9780348271911

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Order laid before Parliament under section 59(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; draft to lie for forty days pursuant to section 6(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, during which period either House of Parliament may resolve that the Order be not made.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

Made ***

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009f1 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for Englandf2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated February 2025f3 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Swindon. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2009 c. 20.

f2

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20).

f3

The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/swindon/.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and application
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors
  4. 4Parish wards of the parishes of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors
  5. 5Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors
  6. 6Parish wards of the parish of St Andrews and number of councillors
  7. Signature
  8. Schedule 1Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors
  9. Schedule 2Parish wards of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors
  10. Schedule 3Parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews
  11. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

(2)

This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

(3)

Articles 3 to 6 come into force—

(a)

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2025;

(b)

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in Englandf1 in 2026.

(4)

This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

2Interpretation

(1)

In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Englandf1.

(2)

Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of that feature.

3Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors

(1)

The existing wards of the borough of Swindon are abolished.

(2)

The borough of Swindon is divided into the 25 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

(3)

Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

(4)

The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.

4Parish wards of the parishes of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors

(1)

The existing parish wards of the following parishes are abolished—

(a)

Central Swindon North;

(b)

Haydon Wick;

(c)

South Swindon;

(d)

Stratton St Margaret.

(2)

The parish of Central Swindon North is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

(3)

The parish of Haydon Wick is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

(4)

The parish of South Swindon is divided into the seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

(5)

The parish of Stratton St Margaret is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

(6)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(7)

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 2.

5Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors

(1)

The parish of Liddington is divided into two parish wards, namely—

(a)

Badbury Wick;

(b)

Liddington.

(2)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(3)

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 1 in Schedule 3.

6Parish wards of the parish of St Andrews and number of councillors

(1)

The parish of St Andrews is divided into two parish wards, namely—

(a)

St Andrews East;

(b)

St Andrews West & Tadpole.

(2)

Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

(3)

The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 2 in Schedule 3.

Signature

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Name

Chief Executive

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Date

Schedule 1Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors

(1) Name of borough ward(2) Number of councillors
Badbury Park, Eldene & Liden3
Blunsdon1
Broadgreen2
Chiseldon & Ridgeway2
Covingham & Nythe2
Gorse Hill1
Haydon Wick3
Highworth2
Kingshill2
Lower Stratton3
Lydiard, Freshbrook & Toothill3
Old Town & Lawn3
Parks2
Penhill & Pinehurst2
Priory Vale3
Queen’s Park3
Rodbourne Cheney2
Rodbourne Ferndale & Western3
Shaw & Westlea3
South Marston1
St Andrews East2
St Andrews West & Tadpole2
Upper Stratton2
Walcot2
Wroughton & Wichelstowe3

Schedule 2Parish wards of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Central Swindon North and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Even Swindon3
Gorse Hill2
Penhill2
Pinehurst2
Rodbourne Cheney4
Rodbourne Ferndale3

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of Haydon Wick and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Haydon Wick9
Priory Vale9

Table 3

Parish wards of the parish of South Swindon and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Badbury Park1
Broadgreen3
Kingshill3
Old Town & Lawn5
Parks4
Queen’s Park4
Walcot3

Table 4

Parish wards of the parish of Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Coleview3
Lower Coleview2
Lower Stratton7
Upper Stratton7

Schedule 3Parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
Badbury Wick3
Liddington4

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of St Andrews and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward(2) Number of councillors
St Andrews East5
St Andrews West & Tadpole6

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Swindon following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough remains unchanged.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Swindon and replaces them with the 25 electoral wards listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections to be held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in England in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

Articles 5 and 6 make similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews, which were previously un-warded, for the purpose of parish elections in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/swindon/.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.