This constituency covers the part of the New Forest which is not covered by New Forest East, and southern coastal settlements just outside its boundaries. The largest settlements are Fordingbridge and Ringwood which are inland and coastal New Milton and Lymington.
For all areas the relevant local authority has a higher than average proportion of retired people, and a lower than national average extent of social housing and rented housing.[2] Housing types include far above average detached and semi-detached properties.[2] Coast and forest are contained in this area.[3]
Boundariesedit
Map of current boundaries
1997–2010: The District of New Forest wards of Barton, Bashley, Becton, Bransgore and Sopley, Downlands, Fordingbridge, Forest North West, Forest West, Hordle, Lymington Town, Milford, Milton, Pennington, Ringwood North, Ringwood South, and Sway.
2010–present: The District of New Forest wards of Barton, Bashley, Becton, Bransgore and Burley, Buckland, Downlands and Forest, Fernhill, Fordingbridge, Forest North West, Hordle, Lymington Town, Milford, Milton, Pennington, Ringwood East and Sopley, Ringwood North, and Ringwood South.
Proposed
edit
Following a review of local authority ward boundaries, which became effective in May 2023,[5][6] the constituency now comprises the following:
The District of New Forest wards of: Ashley, Bashley and Fernhill; Ballard; Barton and Becton; Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood East; Downlands and Forest North; Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde; Lymington; Milford and Hordle; Milton; Pennington; Ringwood North and Ellingham; and Ringwood South.[7]
Historyedit
This constituency was created when the old New Forest constituency was divided for the 1997 general election. Since its creation, election results suggest a Conservative safe seat.
^"Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
^ ab"2011 census interactive maps". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
^"New Forest West: Constituency | Politics | The Guardian". 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
^LGBCE. "New Forest | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
^"Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens select New Forest East and West candidates for next UK general election". Lymington Times and New Milton Advertiser. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
^"New Forest West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.