Parishes are set to merge

HISTORIC boundaries are set to be removed as Barnham and Eastergate councils become one.

The merger of the two local authorities is on course to take place this year.

If it goes ahead, the centuries-old administrative division between the two areas will be removed.

Eastergate Parish Council chairman Cllr Chris Allington welcomed the progress of the combining of the councils in December.

"I'm looking forward to a combined authority if it goes ahead. I've been working towards it for a number of years," he said.

"Half of what people think of as Barnham village is in Eastergate parish. The situation disenfranchises people in my opinion. A large majority of people think they are in Barnham parish but they're not, due to boundaries which date back centuries."

The parish of Eastergate ends to the east at the stream which runs alongside the Barnham Trading Post shop to mean what is considered to be the village centre, as well as the railway station, are included. Barnham parish is focused around the 900-year-old St Mary's Church at the southern end of Church Lane.

A formal initial backing for the merger was given unanimously by Arun District Council's electoral review subcommittee last week. The final decision will be made a meeting of the full council in the next few months.

Arun group head of policy Jackie Follis told the sub-committee the merger had to follow strict legal procedures after the district council had agreed last January to start the process.

Letters were sent to Eastergate and Barnham residents two months ago. The result of a ballot among them announced last month showed 80.59 per cent support among those who voted. The turnout was 37.69 per cent.

"What is quite interesting is that the proportion in each parish voting in favour was identical. It couldn't be closer," she said. "I'm of the view that is indicative of a concensus in favour across both parishes."

She said Arun had to be satisfied that guidance from the Local Boundary Commission was being met. This included the impact on community cohesion of the merger, the population of the combined parish, public opinion and how the new council would be run.

The combined population of some 5,000 residents was near the middle of parishes in the district, she said.

The parish councils have agreed the new authority will have 13 members.

Sub-committee member Cllr John Charles (C, Barnham) said: "It's great the parish councils have done a lot of work and I think it's admirable the way they have done that work.

"This needs to be done. Half the people don't know where they are living. They think they are in Barnham but they are in Eastergate. This will clarify everything."