Behind closed doors, and only being consulted on within the city's political parties, a sweeping review of Salford's local ward boundaries is currently happening.
The Salford Star reported in 2016* that Ordsall, in particular had outgrown itself with the influx of yuppies at MediaCityUK and along the waterfront. Every electoral ward in the city should have an 'average elector equality ratio' of 2,874 people.
The ratio is calculated by dividing the number of people eligible to vote in a ward by the number of councillors (three) who represent them. Wards are allowed a 30% variance above this figure, or 872 voters. Ordsall now has 11,384 potential voters, and an elector ratio of 3,794 which is 1,010 above the average, an imbalance which means that the ward could be split.
A Salford City Council report on the matter suggested that parts of Ordsall could be included in the Irwell Riverside ward, which is currently below the elector ratio by 273, with a possible knock on effect for Langworthy, Seedley and Weaste.
Other wards which are heading towards being overblown are Broughton and Little Hulton, which are currently 10% over the elector equality ratio.
The review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England is firstly to decide how many councilors should represent the city, and it's taking submissions on this until 31st May from, what appears from a Council report in March, to be only the Labour and Conservative parties in the city. Indeed, Labour has its own 'electoral review group'.
The Salford Star understands that the number of councillors per ward could be cut to two, from the present three, as new wards emerge, although the actual number of councillors will be decided in June.
"The Commission is in the preliminary stage of an electoral review of Salford City Council" a spokesperson for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England told the Salford Star.
"The review will re-draw ward boundaries across the city as well as deciding how many councillors should be elected to the council in total" they added "We are currently gathering information to help us take a view on the number of councillors for Salford. We plan to make take a decision on councillor numbers and open a public consultation on ward boundaries for the whole city at the end of June."
Following this June consultation, recommendations by the Commission will be published in November, followed by another consultation, with the final recommendations published in March next year, to be in place for the 2020 local elections.
See also previous related Salford Star article: Salford Apartment Boom Means Ordsall Could Be Split – click here
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