The Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

The Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025 implements comprehensive changes to electoral arrangements in the borough of Thurrock following recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

The Order abolishes existing electoral wards and establishes 20 new wards with specified numbers of councillors for each, ranging from two to three members per ward.

These changes will take effect for elections from 2025 onwards, with new boundaries defined by geographical features and documented in official mapping.

Arguments For

  • Provides updated electoral arrangements that better reflect current population distribution and community boundaries in Thurrock

  • Creates a more balanced representation with carefully allocated councilor numbers for each ward based on population size

  • Implements recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission following detailed local consultation

  • Maintains clear geographical boundaries using recognizable features like roads and waterways for easier administration

Arguments Against

  • Requires significant administrative changes to implement new ward boundaries and electoral arrangements

  • May cause temporary confusion for residents who find themselves in newly named or restructured wards

  • Could potentially disrupt existing community structures and local representation patterns during the transition

  • Implementation costs associated with updating electoral systems and documentation

Citation, commencement, extent and application

  1. This Order may be cited as the Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.
  2. This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
  3. Article 3 comes into force-
  4. (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;
  5. (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025.
  6. This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation 7. In this Order, 'the map' means the map marked 'Map referred to in the Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025', held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. 8. 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 the feature.

Wards of the borough of Thurrock and number of councillors 9. The existing wards of the borough of Thurrock are abolished. 10. The borough of Thurrock is divided into the 20 wards listed in the first column of the table in the Schedule. 11. Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward. 12. The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in the Schedule.