Proposed Boundary Review between Lapworth and Rowington – Tuesday 15th April at 7.30pm in Rowington Village Hall
A proposal has been put forward by affected residents to move the existing boundary from Kingswood Brook [bridge B4439/006] to the Grand Union Canal [bridge 65] to bring the Kingswood Green development of 39 properties and c20 on the Old Warwick Road into Lapworth PC rather than Rowington PC. It has been agreed that Lapworth PC will meet with Rowington PC on Tuesday 15th April at 7.30pm in Rowington Village Hall to discuss this… Members of the public are welcome to attend. The next steps would be to submit a formal Petition to Warwick District Council and request them to undertake a Community Governance Review.
The Boundary Commission’s report published in March 2010 to give Guidance on community governance reviews
https://www.lgbce.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/community-governance-review-guidance.pdf
clearly states the following:
Section 2
- In many cases making changes to the boundaries of existing parishes, rather than creating an entirely new parish, will be sufficient to ensure that community governance arrangements to continue to reflect local identities and facilitate effective and convenient local government. For example, over time communities may expand with new housing developments. This can often lead to existing parish boundaries becoming anomalous as new houses are built across the boundaries resulting in people being in different parishes from their neighbours. In such circumstances, the council should consider undertaking a community governance review, the terms of reference
of which should include consideration of the boundaries of existing parishes.
- A community governance review offers an opportunity to put in place strong, clearly defined boundaries, tied to firm ground features, and remove the many anomalous parish boundaries that exist in England. Reviews also offer the chance to principal councils to consider the future of what may have become redundant or moribund parishes, often the result of an insufficient number of local electors within the area who are willing to serve on a parish council.
This seems clear that it applies in situations like the matter that Lapworth PC discussed in February and agreed to move forward. The major question is why hasn’t it been raised and rectified before now?
The current boundary defined by the Brook has probably been brought forward into the Civil system from the ancient ecclesiastical parish boundary which were often streams. These could swell in winter and make tracks impassible. Hence separation from the next parish for church attendance which was compulsory at periods in the past.
Post 1800 the Canal became a major divide between the settlements of Lapworth and Rowington in the area in question and logically would make a clearer definition.
The benefits of making a change would be ‘Joined up thinking’ to monitor issues on the Brook itself if it were all in one parish in this area. It has a history of flooded land around it and sometimes in recent years onto the Old Warwick Road until Highways dredged under the bridge when it became completely blocked. Properties alongside its course report ongoing issues still.
The Post Office regards Lapworth and Rowington as totally separate.
– Rowington Post goes via Coventry.
– Lapworth’s goes via Solihull – hence the different post codes. All affected properties have a Lapworth address and B94 post code.
Most people already think that the houses affected are in Lapworth and were surprised, to learn of the anomalous current boundary which we are seeking to move in the hope that logic will prevail and change will be agreed.
The people who live in the affected area use most, if not all, the following Lapworth services and have little or no affiliation with Rowington.
Lapworth Post Office/Wines
Lapworth Stores
Lapworth Station
Lapworth School
Lapworth Garage
Lapworth Surgery
Lapworth Village Hall…the boundary change would enable residents to walk to vote in elections rather than drive to Rowington.
Lapworth Playground
Lapworth organisations – Lapworth Charity, Lapworth Players, Lapworth Old Peoples Association, Elderberries, Lapworth Guides, Lapworth Film Club, Lapworth History Group, Lapworth Table Tennis Club.
If you have any comments or wish to talk in more detail, please contact me;
Councillor John Hall john.hall@lapworth-pc.gov.uk
25 Kingswood Green
Lapworth B94 6LY
Or Richard Lucas clerk@lapworth-pc.gov.uk
01564 0660141
