Tom Brake

I believe that the proposals outlined by Boundary Commission destroy the cohesion and unity of our local area, exactly at a time when we need to pull together and work hard as a community. Would an MP who represented Croydon really fight hard to save the future of St Helier?

However, these proposals are not final and you now have the chance to influence the future of our local area by voicing your objections to these ill-thought out plans. The Boundary Commission can only consider certain objections and certain criteria will have to be met. I would therefore urge to respond to the consultation by clicking on http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk and highlighting one, or more, of the following concerns and suggestions. You may also want to use the template letter below.

• The Boundary Commission has not respected local ties.
  • The proposals split up the natural community of Carshalton and Wallington
  • Residents in Carshalton and Wallington overwhelmingly rely on St Helier Hospital as their main hospital.
  • The proposals would mean many people living in one constituency but with their hospital located in another.
  • There are few transport links that connect Carshalton and Wallington with Croydon.
  • The Boundary Commission has not given consideration to the expected development of 700 new properties in Wallington, as part of Sutton Council's sustainable suburb.
• Carshalton and Wallington has particularly unique issues that would be best served by a single Member of Parliament for the area.
  • The current proposals will divide the historic communities of Wallington and Beddington
  • Wallington and Beddington would be best served by a single MP for the area.

• Carshalton and Wallington should be extended slightly into Merton.
  • Sutton and Merton already share a number of council services.
  • Sutton and Merton share the same Primary Care Trusts
  • The 9000 properties in St Helier span the Sutton and Merton boroughs
  • Therefore, a small extension into Merton would not be as unsettling as dividing our local area and combining it with Croydon.

It is clear that constituencies are more than lines on a map; more often than not they are strong communities that share common bonds and common issues. That is why I am asking you to voice your concerns about these proposals, which will destroy the cohesion and unity of this constituency.

You can send the message to the Boundary Commission that they need to rethink these changes by clicking http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk and completing the online submission form. Alternatively, I have enclosed a standard letter that you may wish to sign and send to the Boundary Commission by post. The consultation ends on December 5^th. I would also encourage you to ask your friends and family to make a submission.

I completely understand that changes in constituency boundaries may not be at the top of your agenda at the moment, but if you care about the strong and distinctive community here in Carshalton and Wallington, then I hope you will take the time to contact the Boundary Commission.

Template letter

I am writing to express my concern about the proposals to divide the constituency of Carshalton and Wallington and create two new constituencies that include large areas of Croydon.

Carshalton, Wallington and Beddington run in parallel, vertically, because they were established historically along water sources such as the River Wandle. Cutting these communities in half for Parliamentary representation purposes is illogical, as it cuts several existing communities in two.

Most residents of Carshalton and Wallington live in clearly identified communities and can easily understand who is their MP by reference to the name of their postal district. Splitting wards, into separate north and south constituencies, means there would be a loss of the historical links from the Urban District Council, through to the current London Borough of Sutton ward boundaries. It would no longer be immediately clear which MP to approach, leading to a considerable amount of miscommunication.

A Carshalton or Wallington resident, should be able to assume that their local shopping centre is in the same constituency as they are, and that their MP represents them to their local schools, hospital and other services. This would not happen under current proposals.

I also believe that the Boundary Commission has not given significant consideration to the proposed development in Hackbridge that will see the construction of over 700 new properties in the next few years, pushing the new northern constituency immediately over the size limit.

I appreciate that there is a need to increase the number of electors in the current constituency. However, I believe the interests of the local community would be best served by extending the constituency into Merton. Sutton and Merton already share a number of council services and have the same Primary Care Trust. The 9000 properties in St Helier span the boroughs of Sutton and Merton. For these reasons, I think extending the constituency into a small part of Merton would better serve our local community and be less unsettling than combining our local area with Croydon.

I do hope that the Boundary Commission will rethink these proposals so that the people of Carshalton and Wallington have representation that reflects the needs of the local area.