Sutherland boundary changes 'totally and utterly unacceptable'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THERE has been a furious reaction in Sutherland to the Boundary Commission's proposals to amalgamate the county's two Highland Council wards into one and reduce the number of representatives from six to four.
One councillor called the move “totally and utterly unacceptable” and a "nail in the coffin" of local accountability, while another claimed those drawing up the changes have "not a scooby" about the way communities function.
The county currently has two wards – East Sutherland and Edderton along with North, West and Central Sutherland. There are three councillors for each ward.
Under the latest Boundary Commission review, the suggested single ward would not include Edderton, which would be lumped in with Tain, and would follow the geographical county lines.
The move, which is understood to have been driven by population figures, would make it one of the largest local authority wards in the country.
As reported this week, Caithness would also lose out but the impact there would not be so drastic.
The plans envisage a new Caithness ward with three members, while new Wick and Thurso wards would have two councillors each. In total the county would have one councillor fewer than under the present system of four members each in two wards – Thurso and Northwest Caithness, and Wick and East Caithness.
Consultation is under way to ascertain what councillors think of the plan.
Sutherland County Committee chairman Richard Gale, one of the East Sutherland and Edderton representatives, has already declared that the proposals are “totally and utterly unacceptable” as well as “undemocratic and unworkable”.
He said: “Sutherland is always last for any investment and first for any cuts and that seems to be a constant situation. There has been a severe lack of investment for about 10 years – this is just another nail in the coffin.”
Councillor Linda Munro (North, West and Central Sutherland) said: “It just shows that the Boundary Commission really has no understanding of what we do, who we are and how our communities function – not a scooby."
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Gail Ross said the proposed changes made a “complete mockery” of democracy in remote rural areas.
“Once again it demonstrates a complete disregard from the Boundary Commission towards the communities of the far north,” she said.
“Making Sutherland one ward is absolutely ludicrous and quite obviously done by someone who has never visited the county. Rural-proofing now needs to be front and centre of every single decision that affects our area if we are to thrive and grow.”
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “I am very unhappy about a lot of what they are proposing. We will need a very strong response.
“We had a meeting with the Boundary Commission late last year and we said to them to please be very mindful of communities, community loyalties and geography and not to get dazzled by the numbers game. I am very sorry but this is what has happened yet again.”
