Go-ahead expected now for new Melton and Syston electoral constituency

The Boundary Commission has today (Wednesday) submitted its final recommendation to scrap the existing Rutland and Melton constituency and replace it with a new electoral area covering Melton and Syston.

All the Rutland wards and some from Harborough district, which have been grouped with Melton for the last 13 years, will transfer to another new constituency called Rutland and Stamford.

If the recommended changes are officially ratified, Melton will elect a new MP at the next General Election, with current incumbent, Alicia Kearns, having already been nominated as the Conservative Party’s candidate for the new Rutland and Stamford seat.

Melton and Syston would have a total electorate of 71,615 and include the Charnwood district wards of East Goscote, Queniborough, Sileby, Syston East, Syston West, Thurmaston and Wreake Villages.

The following Melton wards will also be included: Asfordby, Bottesford, Croxton Kerrial, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, Gaddesby, Long Clawson and Stathern, Melton Craven, Melton Dorian, Melton Egerton, Melton Newport, Melton Sysonby, Melton Warwick, Old Dalby, Somerby, Waltham-on-the-Wolds and Wymondham.

Mrs Kearns had indicated she wanted the existing Rutland and Melton arrangement retained, arguing in the consultation that both areas shared close community links through their rurality and that the suburban Syston area would be at odds with this.

The boundary commission, however, decided that Melton Mowbray and Syston are both ‘small towns with a rural hinterland, and that they are well connected along the A607’.

The Boundary Commission for England has submitted its final recommendations report, for suggested changes across the country, to the Speaker of the House of Commons yesterday, and that report is now being laid before Parliament.

Secretary to the Commission, Tim Bowden, said: "We have taken into account over 60,000 public comments, travelled the country, and heard many passionate views about how best to reflect local community ties in our recommendations.

“We are confident that our final recommendations are the best reflection of the statutory rules Parliament has set us.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has participated in the 2023 Boundary Review.”

The Government now has four months to bring forward an Order to give effect to the final recommendations.