Michael Fabricant has backed calls from Yoxall and Barton Parish Councils, among others in the Lichfield Parliamentary Constituency, not to move parts of these rural parishes into the urban area of Branston.

Writing to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Michael Fabricant has said:

“I write in support of Yoxall and Barton Parish Councils among others to oppose the proposals made by Boundary Commission to place Yoxall Ward within a new ward with Barton under Needwood in the Borough of East Staffordshire.

I cannot reconcile your stated criteria with some of the proposals you have made concerning a new Yoxall and Barton under Needwood ward.

To reiterate the points made by the Parish Council and others, I believe the Commission has ignored the main elements of your criteria regarding community identity and effective and convenient local government in transferring  Dunstall , Rangemore and Tatenhill to Branston.  And yet you have met these objectives in transferring Hoar Cross to Abbots Bromley ( Bagots) and Newborough to Crown ( Draycot /Marchington).

Branston is a demonstrably urban area having lost its rural identity long ago as Burton town centre expanded towards the A38 .  Furthermore I hope ESBC has made you aware of the considerable amount of new housing currently underway in Branston which will further reinforce its identity as a sizable urban area.

There is plainly no commonality between Branston and the three rural communities in Needwood Ward and the total number of residents in these communities of 500+  is insignificant compared with the Branston ward’s population which will grow to well over 15,000 in the next 10 years.  

I am aware of the workload of members of councils and it is far more time efficient to represent a ward which has a common identity in terms of its social interaction, character and services. Barton under Needwood is the long established ward centre for the three small communities affected by your proposals. Not Branston.

I would ask that you take these factors into account and reverse your proposals.”

Commenting now, Michael says “Change for changes sake is never a good idea.  I hope that the Boundary Commission will reverse their unnecessary decision.  It is clearly not the wish of local people to be lumped in with Branston and Burton.”