EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes changes to the electoral arrangements for the Isle of Wight following recommendations made by the Boundary Committee for England to the Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission accepted the Boundary Committee’s recommendations without modification.

The electoral changes apply in respect of local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2009.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of the county and replaces them with 39 new ones. That article, the map and the Schedule also establish the names and areas of the new county electoral divisions and the numbers of county councillors for each electoral division.

Article 4 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Cowes and replaces them with 4 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 5 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of East Cowes and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 6 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Freshwater and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 7 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Lake and replaces them with 2 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 8 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Newport and replaces them with 7 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 9 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Ryde and replaces them with 7 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 10 abolishes the existing parish wards of the parish of Shanklin and replaces them with 3 new ones. That article and the map also establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 11 establishes 2 parish wards for the parish of Whippingham. That article and the map also establish the areas of the new parish wards and the numbers of parish councillors for each ward.

Article 13 obliges the Electoral Registration Officer for the county to make any necessary amendments to the electoral register to reflect the new electoral arrangements.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new county electoral divisions and parish wards. It is available at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/south-east/isle-of-wight and, at all reasonable times, at the offices of Isle of Wight Council and at the principal office of the Electoral Commission at Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW.