The proposals in the Ivybridge and Ugborough Community Governance Review would make the town’s eastern limit more accurately reflect ward boundaries for both South Hams and Devon County Councils.
Extending the eastern boundary of Ivybridge would also bring sites where new housing is to be built into the town area, with planning permission granted for two large developments, and an application for a third expected soon.
The move is not without implications for existing residents, however, with Ivybridge council tax set at a higher rate than Ugborough’s.
Since November 2015, a working group of South Hams councillors has been considering the boundary. Until now the group has sought only the views of residents directly affected by any change, along with the county council and the affected parish and town councils.
Now they have opened up the discussion to the wider community and are seeking their views.
The group’s chairman Cllr John Tucker said: ’This is a difficult issue for us to deal with. While we recognise that there is merit in aligning the physical boundary with the electoral boundaries, the residents affected would then be paying a different rate of council tax because Ivybridge’s precept is higher than Ugborough’s.
’And one of the other questions that we have been asking ourselves is whether the characteristics of the area concerned are more akin to the village setting than the town.
’The working group is concerned that, during the initial stage of the review, we have only had four comments from the consultees that we contacted.
’The group would strongly encourage local residents and stakeholders to express their views during this next stage of the review, as this will be their final opportunity to make comments before the council has to reach a decision at a meeting in the autumn.’
The consultation is open until September 9. For further information, including how to get involved visit the Ivybridge and Ugborough Community Governance Review section of South Hams Council’s website, Google ’Ivybridge and Ugborough Community Governance Review’, or email: [email protected].