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Community petition against council ward change is handed over  

 

A move to merge council wards and cut the present number of 31 Western Isles councillors to 26 has been rejected.

Though proposals to reduce councillors' numbers was generally welcomed as a money saver, many islander were concerned at the loss of local representation in larger wards.

The Scottish Government said they would wait for the outcome of forthcoming legislation which would allow islands a greater say.

Parliamentary Business Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “We are committed to introducing an Islands Bill in this first Parliamentary year enabling the creation of one or two member island wards.

 

Halt to council superwards in Western Isles  

15 September 2016

“We do not propose to pre-empt the Bill by changing ward boundaries in Orkney, Shetland or Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, so we are therefore not implementing any changes in those areas."

He added: “However, we will be asking the commission to look at electoral arrangements for the islands areas once the Bill has been enacted, with the aim of having any changes arising from the Islands Bill in place for the local elections in 2022."

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland consulted on changes in the Western Isles  

It had recommended creating a new superward over a huge geographical area to cover Harris, Lochs, Uig and Bernera, effectively combining two current wards into one.  

Another new superward earmarked for Lewis was to take in Ness in the north, through Carloway to Lochganvich in the south.

Hundreds of residents protested at a plan to merge Parkend, Holm and Sandwick into Point.

The commission wanted to see a reduction from four councillors to three in both Stornoway wards as well as in the Barra and South Uist district.

 

Community petition against council ward change is handed over