Laverstock 173

and to the fact that in the 2016 Parish Boundary Review / Community Governance
Review, Wiltshire Council ratified the views expressed by Laverstock and Ford Parish
Council and 99.3% of the 1010 Parish resident’s survey responses (48% came from
Laverstock, 28% from Ford and Old Sarum, and 24% from Bishopdown Farm /
Hampton Park).
They believed strongly that the Parish is an entity with a semi-rural identity, separate
and distinct from that of Salisbury City Parish (who wished to take over the entire
Parish) which the residents value and wish to preserve. Furthermore, in line
with the concept that those who live together are governed together, residents are
content that the Parish Council exercises good governance at their local level.
The Parish Council noted that in their recent deliberations, Wiltshire Council’s Electoral
Review Committee adhered to the principal that where Wiltshire Council had
carried out previous Community Governance Reviews it would be appropriate to
adjust division boundaries and Area Board boundaries to reflect those changes.
Division names
Wiltshire Council has recommended to the Commission the names “Old Sarum” and
“Laverstock”.
Given that Laverstock and Ford is a long established Civil Parish with a strong identity,
the Parish Council has argued strongly that the 2 Divisions should be named
simply Laverstock and Ford East and Laverstock and Ford West. Deviating from
these would go against the concept of Laverstock and Ford’s Neighbourhood Plan
which looks to retain the cohesiveness of the Parish and encourage the residents
from the various communities to continue to feel united within our boundary. It
therefore recommended to the Commission the following:
Division 23 - Laverstock and Ford West comprising Bishopdown Farm,
Hampton Park, Riverdown Park, Old Sarum (part) and Longhedge and,
Division 24 - Laverstock and Ford East comprising Laverstock, Ford, Milford
(part) and Old Sarum (part) together with the parishes of Clarendon
Park, Firsdown, Britford and Odstock.
Next steps
The Parish Council’s views have been recorded and published on the Local Government
Boundary Commission for England’s web site. They will be considered as they
decide their draft recommendations which they expect to make on 5 February 2019.
This will mark a new phase of consultation for the review in which the Commission
will seek views on the draft recommendations and further evidence about where
division boundaries should be to aid it when it makes its final recommendations,
expected on 9 July 2019.
Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter 13