Parish Council News

The Local Government Boundary Commission

A consultation on ward boundaries for Dorset Council has begun

Have your say now via our website

Today is the start of a 10-week public consultation inviting proposals for new council wards and ward boundaries for Dorset Council.

Our consultation will close on 1 June 2026.

After we have considered all representations made to us during this consultation, we intend to publish draft recommendations in September 2026.

We will then hold a further period of consultation on our draft recommendations. Our final recommendations are expected to be published in March 2027.

The new electoral arrangements will come into effect at the local elections in May 2029.

If you represent a local organisation or community group in Dorset, please pass this message on to your members or anyone who you think might be interested in the review. You can share the message by email or through social media by using the buttons at the bottom right of the page.

What is an electoral review?

Our electoral review will recommend new electoral arrangements for Dorset Council. We will propose:

  • the total number of councillors elected to the council in the future;
  • the number of wards;
  • the number of councillors representing each ward;
  • ward boundaries; and
  • the names of wards.

How to get involved

This is a public consultation and we welcome views from individuals and organisations across Dorset on where they think new ward boundaries should be drawn.

We are minded to recommend that 82 councillors should be elected to Dorset Council in the future.

This is no change from the current number of councillors.

We are now inviting proposals to help us draw up a pattern of wards accommodate 82 councillors.

In drawing up new electoral wards, we must balance three legal criteria, namely:

  • to deliver electoral equality: where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the county;
  • that the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities;
  • that the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government.

We will treat all submissions equally, and judge each case on its merits and against the legal criteria.

If you wish to put forward a view, we would also urge you to ensure that evidence supports your submission.

For example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you tell us why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.

There is more advice on our website about how you can get involved in the consultation.

Our website features technical guidance that explains the process and our policies, as well as guidance on how to take part in each part of the process.

We have also set up a webpage dedicated to the review of Dorset, where you can find all the relevant information, access interactive maps of the current ward boundaries, and give your views.

Promote the review in your area with our promotional poster

Get in touch

We welcome comments on warding arrangements by 1 June 2026. Representations should be made:

– Through our website

– By email to reviews@lgbce.org.uk

– Or in writing to Review Officer (Dorset), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ

 

 

Travel Plan Incident Request

As part of the planning permission for the further expansion of the Cheese Factory at Parks Farm, Ashley Chase, a Travel Plan has been put in place.

To ensure the Travel Plan works for all parties the Parish Council has been asked to report all traffic incidents within the parish involving vehicles travelling to and from the Cheese Factory, particularly the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Please report to the Parish Clerk:

1. Incidents of head on meetings between two HGVs or HGVs and the school bus/other large vehicles.
2. HGVs passing through the village outside the agreed hours of 7.00am – 6pm on working days only. There should be no HGVs on weekends and public holidays. Milk tankers are excluded.
3. Damage to property however minor.
4. Discourteous driving.

Please note the day, time and place and if at all possible a photograph of the incident.

The Parish Clerk will report the incidents to the Highways Department and the Cheese Factory.

The Parish Council is aware that not all vehicles involved in incidents have to do with the Cheese Factory but these will be separated out; therefore please report all incidents even if you are unsure. Confidentiality will be assured at all times.

Parish Clerk:  email  –  clerk@longbredy.org

The Parish Council wishes to assure residents that this procedure is welcomed by all parties to ensure the Travel Plan will work to the benefit of the village, the Cheese Factory and the vehicles having to come through the village now and in the future. Problems cannot have a solution if no one is made aware of the problem!