Local Government Boundary Commission for England - final recommendations for changes to St Albans District wards

News Release from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

New political map for St Albans City & District Council December 2020

​St Albans is set to have new boundaries for its council wards.  

New wards for St Albans Council 

Credit: contains Ordnance Survey data (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2020 

High resolution map available at http://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/Reviews/Eastern/Hertfordshire/St%20Albans/Final/Launch%20map%20no%20labels.jpg 

The Local Government Boundary Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It has reviewed St Albans to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively.  

The Commission has published final recommendations for changes in St Albans. It says residents should be represented by 56 councillors. This is two fewer than current arrangements.  

There will be 20 wards; 17 three-councillor wards, two two-councillor wards and one single-councillor ward. All wards except for Sopwell & Harpenden West will change.  

Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: 

“We are very grateful to people in St Albans. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.  

 “We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”   

People and organisations made 131 comments to help decide the new wards. Changes in response to what local people said include:  

The Lea Valley area was restored to a Wheathampstead based ward. 

Grange Street and Dalton Street are placed wholly within St Peters ward, rather than being split with Batchwood ward. 

The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/eastern/hertfordshire/st-albans.   

Parliament now needs to agree the changes. The new arrangements will then apply for the 2022 council elections.    

Ends/ 

Notes to editors:  

For further information contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525 / 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk  

An interactive map is available at https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/18188  

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to: 

• Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors 
• Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities 
• Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances ​