Post by swindonlad on Oct 1, 2023 17:03:17 GMT
Swindon North is much less changed than its southern neighbour by the Boundary Commission review with the only changes being the parts of the 2 split wards, Western & Mannington and Covingham & Dorcan, being transferred into Swindon South.
There was discussion in the review process of Blunsdon & Highworth being moved into the new South Cotswold constituency, however, this was rejected as it meant Swindon Borough would have been split across 4 constituencies, with one and possibly two being orphaned wards.
Swindon North will consist of the following wards, Blunsdon & Highworth, Gorse Hill & Pinehurst, Haydon Wick, Penhill & Upper Stratton, Priory Vale, Rodbourne Cheney, St Andrews and St Margaret & South Marston.
This is the successor constituency to North Swindon, which was created in 1997, when the northern parts of the Swindon and Devizes constituencies were merged.
Blunsdon & Highworth and South Marston part of St Margaret & South Marston are predominantly rural or small towns, the heart of the old Highworth RDC which was merged with the (old) Swindon Borough Council to form Thamesdown BC.
St Andrews, Priory Vale and the northern part of Haydon Wick are new the northern development that has been built from the late 90s to today, centred around the Orbital shopping centre. This area has historically been where the Tories have had their majority in the constituency, however, they have suffered defeats here, including to the local MP's wife. Haydon Wick, historically a separate parish & so not part of the town of Swindon, is a mixed ward, with housing from the 60s onwards, but the development since the 90s has changed the ward’s nature.
To the east are the Stratton wards, which also has always been a separate Parish, traditionally Labour, including the last uncontested ward in Swindon/ Thamesdown council. Centred around Pressed Steel (now BMW) the work force is a lot more blue collar than one would expect from an old village absorbed into a neighbouring urban area.
Pinehurst and Penhill are social housing areas that are a bedrock of the Labour vote in Swindon/ North Swindon. There is a saying in Swindon that you should never live in an area beginning with a P, these are 2 of the 3 areas they’re referring to, the third being Parks in Swindon South.
This leaves Gorse Hill and Rodbourne Cheney, which are older town centre wards with terraced housing based around the old Railway Works, but, not including them as they've moved into Swindon South. Until the works closed most of the people here, to use the local vernacular, were inside. Traditionally a labour area, but, the Tories did win it in their peak.
Swindon North was, before the northern development, should have been a Labour safe constituency outside of the rural areas to the north, however, this never really happened as in 97 , when Swindon gained it's 2nd seat it had the rural area around Cricklade & then it lost this once the northern development was built.
It's now the more Tory of the 2 constituencies, but, will be interesting to see when the tide changes how solid this is as it’s a much newer area.
There was discussion in the review process of Blunsdon & Highworth being moved into the new South Cotswold constituency, however, this was rejected as it meant Swindon Borough would have been split across 4 constituencies, with one and possibly two being orphaned wards.
Swindon North will consist of the following wards, Blunsdon & Highworth, Gorse Hill & Pinehurst, Haydon Wick, Penhill & Upper Stratton, Priory Vale, Rodbourne Cheney, St Andrews and St Margaret & South Marston.
This is the successor constituency to North Swindon, which was created in 1997, when the northern parts of the Swindon and Devizes constituencies were merged.
Blunsdon & Highworth and South Marston part of St Margaret & South Marston are predominantly rural or small towns, the heart of the old Highworth RDC which was merged with the (old) Swindon Borough Council to form Thamesdown BC.
St Andrews, Priory Vale and the northern part of Haydon Wick are new the northern development that has been built from the late 90s to today, centred around the Orbital shopping centre. This area has historically been where the Tories have had their majority in the constituency, however, they have suffered defeats here, including to the local MP's wife. Haydon Wick, historically a separate parish & so not part of the town of Swindon, is a mixed ward, with housing from the 60s onwards, but the development since the 90s has changed the ward’s nature.
To the east are the Stratton wards, which also has always been a separate Parish, traditionally Labour, including the last uncontested ward in Swindon/ Thamesdown council. Centred around Pressed Steel (now BMW) the work force is a lot more blue collar than one would expect from an old village absorbed into a neighbouring urban area.
Pinehurst and Penhill are social housing areas that are a bedrock of the Labour vote in Swindon/ North Swindon. There is a saying in Swindon that you should never live in an area beginning with a P, these are 2 of the 3 areas they’re referring to, the third being Parks in Swindon South.
This leaves Gorse Hill and Rodbourne Cheney, which are older town centre wards with terraced housing based around the old Railway Works, but, not including them as they've moved into Swindon South. Until the works closed most of the people here, to use the local vernacular, were inside. Traditionally a labour area, but, the Tories did win it in their peak.
Swindon North was, before the northern development, should have been a Labour safe constituency outside of the rural areas to the north, however, this never really happened as in 97 , when Swindon gained it's 2nd seat it had the rural area around Cricklade & then it lost this once the northern development was built.
It's now the more Tory of the 2 constituencies, but, will be interesting to see when the tide changes how solid this is as it’s a much newer area.
