The Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2026
- Department: Local Government Boundary Commission for England
- Made under: Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
Abolished existing electoral divisions in Somerset and established 93 new divisions and revised parish wards effective for the 2027 elections.
This Order establishes new electoral arrangements for Somerset, abolishing existing electoral divisions and replacing them with 93 new divisions.
It specifies the number of councillors for each division and creates or modifies parish wards for numerous Somerset parishes, including Bridgwater, Taunton, and Yeovil.
The changes apply to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and Somerset Council for elections held on or after the ordinary day of election in 2027.
Arguments For
The Order states it gives effect to recommendations published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in March 2026.
The Commission asserts that these changes are intended to improve electoral arrangements for Somerset.
The document notes that the instrument was laid before Parliament for forty days without resolution against it, satisfying statutory requirements under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
Arguments Against
Local residents or representatives in specific parishes may express concern regarding the abolition of existing wards and the redistribution of councillor numbers.
Affected parties might question the clarity of new boundaries, which are defined by a master map held by the Commission rather than detailed coordinates within the text.
Critics might argue that a full impact assessment should have been conducted to evaluate the administrative burden on local authorities managing the transition to 93 new divisions.
- -(1) This Order may be cited as the Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2026.
- (2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
- (3) Articles 3 to 8 come into force- (a) for the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made; (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.
- (4) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.
This section sets the official title and the phased commencement dates of the Order.
Administrative preparations for elections begin immediately after the Order is made, while the substantive changes to electoral divisions take full legal effect on the 2027 election day.
The Order's application is limited to England.
- -(1) In this Order, 'the map' means the map marked 'Map referred to in the Somerset (Electoral Changes) Order 2026' held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. (2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse, or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of that feature.
This section defines 'the map' as the authoritative document for determining new electoral boundaries.
It specifies that any boundary following a physical feature like a road or river is legally defined as the exact center of that feature.
- -(1) The existing electoral divisions of Somerset are abolished. (2) Somerset is divided into the 93 electoral divisions listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1. (3) Each electoral division comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division. (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division is the number specified in relation to that electoral division in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.
This section removes all previous electoral boundaries within Somerset and replaces them with 93 new divisions.
It mandates that each new division will elect the specific number of councillors—typically one or two—as designated in the first schedule.
- -(1) The existing parish wards of the parishes listed in paragraph (2) are abolished. (2) The parishes referred to in paragraph (1) are- (a) Bridgwater; (b) Brympton; (c) Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge; (d) Burnham Without; (e) Chard; (f) Frome; (g) Glastonbury; (h) North Petherton; (i) Shepton Mallet; (j) St Cuthbert (Out); (k) Street; (l) Taunton; (m) Wellington; (n) Wembdon; (o) West Huntspill; (p) Yeovil; (q) Yeovil Without. [Subsections (3) through (21) detail the specific division of these parishes into new wards and assign councillor numbers as listed in Schedule 2.]
This section abolishes the current ward structures for 17 named parishes and replaces them with new ward configurations.
It directs that the new parish ward boundaries will align with the designations on the official map and specifies the exact number of councillors for each new ward.
- -(1) The parish of Bridgwater Without is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 3. (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 1 in Schedule 3.
This section introduces a ward structure to the previously unwarded parish of Bridgwater Without.
It creates two new wards, 'Bower' and 'Kingsdown', and assigns two and five councillors to them respectively.
- -(1) The parish of Creech St Michael is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 3. (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 2 in Schedule 3.
This section establishes two parish wards for Creech St Michael: 'Creech St Michael' and 'Monkton Heathfield'.
It sets the number of councillors for these wards at nine and two, respectively.
- -(1) The parish of Crewkerne is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 3. (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 3 in Schedule 3.
This section divides the parish of Crewkerne into North and South wards.
Each ward is assigned six councillors.
- -(1) The parish of Ilminster is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 3. (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 4 in Schedule 3.
This section creates North and South wards for the parish of Ilminster.
The North ward is allocated seven councillors, and the South ward is allocated eight councillors.
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