Final decision on Newport boundary

Telford & Wrekin Council's boundary review committee is expected to say there should be no change to the boundary between Newport Town Council and the Chetwynd Aston and Woodcote parish boundary.

It is the same recommendation they gave several weeks ago, before it was decided that a site visit should be carried out to see where the current and proposed boundaries are.

Newport Town Council have been accused of attempting an "aggressive" extension of boundaries by their neighbours in Church Aston.

Church Aston Parish Council has said there is "no logic" to the proposals and that the only reason for the changes would be to increase the council tax that they collect.

The parish council currently governs the land between the A518, Springfield Industrial Estate and Station Road, where there is planning permission for 500 new homes.

But Newport Town Council says that the change would mean the boundaries become more in line with what people expect the town to end.

It says people are moving to Newport expecting to be part of the town, but actually they are just outside it.

That means they are using facilities in Newport but are not paying council tax towards them, they say.

To bring the boundary change to this stage, councillors in the town needed to get 700 signatures from people in the town who backed the changes.

The recommendation said: "The council have come to this recommendation following due consideration of all consultee responses.

"Four consultee responses were received during the initial consultation period – three in favour of the proposal and one against. Twelve consultee responses were received during the second consultation period, six in favour of the draft recommendations, and six against.

"The council must have regard to the need to secure that community governance within the area reflects the identities and interests of the community in that area and is effective and convenience."

They say there is nothing to support the assertion that new residents to the area would look to Newport for schools and facilities.

"Mere opinion as to where new residents will go is not conclusive enough to support a change in the boundary.

"There is a strong case in support of the argument that the potential increase in the number of electors within the review area will greatly benefit a small rural community like Church Aston, whereas Newport Town Council may see little benefit given its current size."

A decision was made by the boundary review committee last month to carry out a site visit to see where the current boundary is.

The boundary review committee’s eventual decision will have to be ratified by a full council vote.