Post by swindonlad on Jul 18, 2023 8:30:36 GMT
Swindon South is one of the 2 constituencies covering the urban part of Swindon Borough, with rural southern wards being in the East Wiltshire constituencies. This includes both the town centre and the Old Town. The boundaries are approximately the London to Gloucester railway line to the north and M4 to the south with the A419 to the east, with adjustments for thew ward boundaries following parish boundaries.
The major employer is Nationwide Building Society, whose headquarters are in the south of the constituency. In addition to this the National Trust's central office is at the north. It is also contains Swindon Town’s home, the County Ground, along with the Steam Museum and Great Western Designer Outlet Village.
This is the successor of the South Swindon constituency which was created in 1997. Unlike its northern neighbour, the new constituency was fully within the pre 1997 constituency of Swindon.
The constituency comprises the following wards, Central, Covingham & Dorcan, Eastcott, Liden, Eldene & Park South, Lydiard & Freshbrook, Mannington & Western, Old Town, Shaw and Walcot & Park North. This is along the parts of Chiseldon & Lawn within South Swindon Parish.
At the last local elections, in 2023, all the wards, except Covingham & Dorcan voted Labour, including Chiseldon and Lawn for the first time that either it or its predecessors voted this way.
The constituency can be split into 4 areas, travelling from west to east, West Swindon, the Victorian housing stretching from Even Swindon to the Old Town, then the social housing of Parks and East Walcot that was built as London overspill, then the private housing that encircles the social housing from Old Walcot through Lawns then the areas to the east of the constituency.
West Swindon was a major expansion of Swindon to the West of the town in the 1970 / 80s. This contains the Shaw and Lydiard and Freshbrook as well as half of the Mannington and Western ward. This area had mainly returned Conservative councillors for the last decade or so until when Labour started winning the wards in the last year or so.
The Victorian housing areas include Even Swindon area in Mannington and Western which has moved from North Swindon. This also includes the town centre wards of Central and Eastcott and then Old Town. Whereas the former wards were traditionally Labour strongholds, Eastcott was until a couple of years ago a safe Liberal Democrat ward, and Old Town was either Conservative or Liberal Democrat. However, now both are won by Labour. In the last couple of years there has been a modern development that is to the south of Old Town, which has started to change the character of the ward.
The social housing area of Parks and East Walcot is 1950s London overspill, including parts of Liden, Eldene & Park South and Walcot & Park North. This area is traditionally Labour, although the Conservatives have taken it in good years from them, and in the former Walcot ward much more favourable boundaries.
The private housing area covers parts of Parks and East Walcot, Chiseldon & Lawn, Liden, Eldene & Park South and the whole of Covingham & Dorcan. The last of these wards was nearly all within North Swindon in the previous constituencies. Lawns, which was traditionally the safest Conservative area within the town apart from when they were at the lowest ebbs. In recent years Covingham & Dorcan has been a ward which has returned Conservative councillors, but not with significant majorities apart from a personal vote for the husband and wife councillors, but, nothing to suggest it would be the only urban ward not to return a Labour councillor.
The major employer is Nationwide Building Society, whose headquarters are in the south of the constituency. In addition to this the National Trust's central office is at the north. It is also contains Swindon Town’s home, the County Ground, along with the Steam Museum and Great Western Designer Outlet Village.
This is the successor of the South Swindon constituency which was created in 1997. Unlike its northern neighbour, the new constituency was fully within the pre 1997 constituency of Swindon.
The constituency comprises the following wards, Central, Covingham & Dorcan, Eastcott, Liden, Eldene & Park South, Lydiard & Freshbrook, Mannington & Western, Old Town, Shaw and Walcot & Park North. This is along the parts of Chiseldon & Lawn within South Swindon Parish.
At the last local elections, in 2023, all the wards, except Covingham & Dorcan voted Labour, including Chiseldon and Lawn for the first time that either it or its predecessors voted this way.
The constituency can be split into 4 areas, travelling from west to east, West Swindon, the Victorian housing stretching from Even Swindon to the Old Town, then the social housing of Parks and East Walcot that was built as London overspill, then the private housing that encircles the social housing from Old Walcot through Lawns then the areas to the east of the constituency.
West Swindon was a major expansion of Swindon to the West of the town in the 1970 / 80s. This contains the Shaw and Lydiard and Freshbrook as well as half of the Mannington and Western ward. This area had mainly returned Conservative councillors for the last decade or so until when Labour started winning the wards in the last year or so.
The Victorian housing areas include Even Swindon area in Mannington and Western which has moved from North Swindon. This also includes the town centre wards of Central and Eastcott and then Old Town. Whereas the former wards were traditionally Labour strongholds, Eastcott was until a couple of years ago a safe Liberal Democrat ward, and Old Town was either Conservative or Liberal Democrat. However, now both are won by Labour. In the last couple of years there has been a modern development that is to the south of Old Town, which has started to change the character of the ward.
The social housing area of Parks and East Walcot is 1950s London overspill, including parts of Liden, Eldene & Park South and Walcot & Park North. This area is traditionally Labour, although the Conservatives have taken it in good years from them, and in the former Walcot ward much more favourable boundaries.
The private housing area covers parts of Parks and East Walcot, Chiseldon & Lawn, Liden, Eldene & Park South and the whole of Covingham & Dorcan. The last of these wards was nearly all within North Swindon in the previous constituencies. Lawns, which was traditionally the safest Conservative area within the town apart from when they were at the lowest ebbs. In recent years Covingham & Dorcan has been a ward which has returned Conservative councillors, but not with significant majorities apart from a personal vote for the husband and wife councillors, but, nothing to suggest it would be the only urban ward not to return a Labour councillor.
