Knowsley Council is asking residents to back its proposals for new ward boundaries that would improve electoral equality across the borough.
The council has agreed detailed plans to be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as part of an electoral review that aims to ensure every councillor represents roughly the same number of voters.
Why the review is happening
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England periodically reviews the electoral and boundary arrangements of all local authority areas, to ensure that each local councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that the wards they represent reflect community identities.
As part of their review into Knowsley’s arrangements, they want to hear the views of people who live in the borough, to help make sure that the new wards reflect the size and shape of local communities.
Following earlier communication with the council, the commission has confirmed that it is minded to recommend that Knowsley Council needs 45 councillors in the future to be able to operate effectively. This is the same number as it has now.
The next stage of the review is now looking at the ward boundaries themselves.
Currently, about a quarter of Knowsley’s wards are expected to have a 10% difference or more from the borough average number of voters in the year 2031. This can create “electoral inequality” – meaning some people’s votes carry more weight than others, depending on where they live.
Knowsley Council must now submit a proposal to address this issue by amending some ward boundaries. The Boundary Commission’s own review will examine these proposals and will also seek the views of local people before either approving the plan put forward by the council, or making its own recommendations based on feedback received.
What the council is proposing
Knowsley Council’s proposals focus on four areas that would have poor electoral equality by 2031 under current boundaries: St Michael’s, St Gabriel’s, Prescot North and Northwood wards.
The proposed changes move some areas between neighbouring wards to balance voter numbers, while aiming to keep local communities together.
Kirkby
In Kirkby, a number of properties south of Britonside Avenue would move from Northwood to the Cherryfield Ward. This reflects how residents in that area have traditionally seen themselves as part of the Southdene neighbourhood.
Huyton
In the Huyton area, a number of boundary adjustments between Page Moss, Roby, St Gabriels and St Michaels wards are proposed as follows:
- The upper north eastern area of Roby ward (i.e. above Rupert Road and Archway Road) would move into the St Michaels ward.
- The bottom south east corner of the Page Moss ward, including the Coral Avenue/Crosswood Crescent area, would move into the Roby ward.
- Two areas currently in the Roby ward would move to the St Gabriels ward. These are the Huyton Campus development site (which contains the Municipal Building and the proposed redeveloped Village Centre) and a set of cul-de-sacs at the south east of the ward off Wheat Hill Road.
These proposed changes use clearly defined boundaries, like the railway line and Archway Road, and would address projected voter imbalances while having minimal impact on existing community links.
Prescot
In Prescot, the area around Prescot Primary School would move from Prescot North to the Prescot South Ward. Again, this would improve electoral equality while keeping the close community links in the area.
The proposals aim to ensure that, by 2031, no ward would have more than a 10% difference from the projected borough average of 8,532 voters per ward.
You can view Knowsley’s full proposal here.
Why these proposals work for Knowsley
The council’s proposed submission meets the three main legal requirements for boundary changes:
- Equal representation – ensuring everyone’s vote counts the same across the borough.
- Effective and convenient local government – enabling councillors to represent their communities properly with appropriate electoral boundaries.
- Reflecting community identity – using clear boundaries like main roads that don’t break up neighbourhoods or community ties.
The proposals would only affect Prescot Town Council as the boundary between the Prescot North and Prescot South parish wards would need to be moved so that it was the same as the Prescot North and Prescot South borough ward boundary. No other town or parish councils would be impacted.
Cllr Jayne Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “This review is an opportunity to ensure that people living in Knowsley are getting fair representation from their elected councillors, which is good for everyone.
“Knowsley’s ward boundaries were last reviewed 10 years ago and, as populations have grown and changed over time, some wards have become bigger than others. Our proposed new warding arrangements ensure a more even number of electors per ward. They also take into account the changes in local populations that we expect to see in the years ahead.
“I’d urge residents to look over our proposals, which I hope they will agree offer the best way to address the need for electoral equality while also keeping communities together and taking into account local identity. Whether or not residents agree with the proposals, it’s important that they have their say so that the Boundary Commission can reflect local views in their final recommendations.”
How residents can support the proposals
The boundary commission wants to hear from local people to help shape their proposals and recommendations on the future electoral wards in Knowsley to ensure that they reflect local communities and identities. Their consultation closes on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Residents are now able to provide their own feedback and views about how ward boundaries should be drawn up – or offer their support to the council proposals – in the following ways:
Online: Visit the commission’s website
Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk
By post to: Review Officer (Knowsley), The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ.
What happens next
There will be a second consultation, currently scheduled to start on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, when the commission publishes its own proposed ward boundaries.
The final recommendations need approval from Parliament and, if approved, the new arrangements will come into effect for the May 2028 council elections. These will be “all-out” elections where all 45 council seats are contested at the same time.