In light of the confirmation that we will have 16 new constituencies, and that they will probably be based on existing Wards, DEAs, Council boundaries, etc. I have made an attempt at redrawing the boundaries, I had posted these on the other thread, but thought it would be good to give the ideas a thread of their own. Have also included a map!
In drawing it up I ignore the existing constituencies completely, they are un-natural and cumbersome in many case, with so much chopping and changing over the years, the extent of the redraw needed this time should provide the chance to start again, which is maybe a good thing too, all those records can be assigned to the history books with many of the other divisive issues.
In doing the redraw I attempted to base the boundaries on Councils firstly, then DEAs, and finally a few wards, probably another ward or two can be changed, to even things out, although they are close enough this time. I actually started with uniting Newry and worked round from there, the names are just guesses, alternatives are welcome!
So here are my suggestions.
1: Kingdom of Mourne – Newry & Mourne + Newcastle = 75k
2: Lecale – Down (-Newcastle) + Ards East & Newtownards town = 71k
3: Clandeboy – North Down + Donaghadee & Ards Peninsula = 75k
4: Lagan Valley – Lisburn = 78k
5: Belfast Conswater – Castlereagh + Victoria = 72k
6: Belfast Lagan – Pottinger, Laganbank, Balmoral and Upper Falls = 72k
7: Belfast Farset – Lower Falls, Court, Old Park and Castle = 72k
8: Antrim Loughshore – Antrim + Newtownabbey (- Ballyclare dea) = 78k
9: Antrim Glens – Ballyclare + Carrickfergus + Larne + Moyle = 74k
10: Antrim Plateau – Ballymena + Ballymoney + the “Ports”= 77k
11: Londonderry East – Coleraine (- “Ports”) + Limavady + Magherafelt = 80k
12: Foyle – Derry CC = 74k
13: Sperrins – Strabane (-Derg)+ Omagh (-West Tyr)+ Cookstown + Torrent = 78k
14: Oriel – Fermanagh + Derg dea + West Tyr dea + Clogher V = 72k
15: Primatial – Dungannon & Blackwater dea + Armagh + Portadown dea = 76k
16: Iveagh – Banbridge + Craigavon (-Portadown) = 80k
I havnt worked out what way they are likey to fall, so probably will get in trouble for turning various areas from Orange to Green! But its just a discussion piece, however if the Commissioners opt for something very similar I will want a slice of their hefty pay!
Map base by Conal Kelly form N. Whytes Ark website.
I’m a progressive traditionalist, liberal conservative, left wing captialist, free thinking fundamentalist, am too fond of playing devils advocate for my own good, and a fondness for the occasional shock comment, put all that together with a tendancy to drop in the odd risky one-liner(occasionally even funny ones) would lead me to issue the appeal not to take what I say too seriously.