1.1 Dorset Council, at its meeting on 23 October 2025, agreed Terms of Reference for a Community Governance Review of the parishes of Shipton Gorge and Loders in accordance with Part 4, Chapter 3 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Read background information about the review.
1.2 A public consultation exercise was undertaken between 3 November 2025 and 5 December 2025 seeking the views of local residents, the parish councils and other interested parties in respect of potential changes to the boundaries of both Loders and Shipton Gorge parishes.
2.1 In addition to the 22 registered electors that signed the original petition, Dorset Council received 29 responses to the consultation that was undertaken in November and December 2025. One respondent did not express a view about whether the boundaries should remain as currently drawn, and of the remaining respondents, 13 requested that the boundary remain unchanged and 15 requested a change to the existing boundary namely that it was moved to its pre 2024 position but noting that 3 properties should remain within the Shipton Gorge parish.
3.1 The Council in coming to its draft recommendations in the review, has taken into account the views of local people, parish councils and other interested parties obtained through consultation as well as those received in the petition.
3.2 There will be a period of consultation in respect of the draft recommendations between 23 February 2026 and 27 March 2026. Any representations received will be considered by Dorset Council when making its final recommendations on 16 April 2026, following which a Reorganisation Order will be drafted to give effect to any changes agreed.
4.1 Dorset Council welcomes representations from any person or body who may wish to comment or make proposals in respect of the draft recommendations. Representations that are received will be taken into account by judging them against the criteria in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
4.2 All initial submissions and representations must be made by 27 March 2026.
4.3 Our preferred method of response is using our online consultation form.
4.4 Alternatively, you can request a paper copy of the consultation response form by calling 01305 838299 and then sending your completed form to:
Electoral Services, Legal & Democratic Services, Dorset Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ.
4.5 It would be helpful if you could make clear in your response whether you represent an individual, organisation or group, and in what capacity you are responding.
4.6 All representations received will be published. In accordance with the Act, and all representations received in connection with the review will be taken into account.
5.1 Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be published, or disclosed in accordance with the access to information regimes.
5.2 If you want any information you provide to be treated as confidential, you should be aware that under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply, and which deals with, amongst other things, obligations of confidence. In view of this, it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential.
5.3 If we receive a request for disclosure of the information, we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give any assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by IT systems will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the council.
5.4 Dorset Council will process your personal data in accordance with data protection legislation and in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.
6.1 The council will publish full details on the council’s website; and key documents will be on deposit at the council’s offices.
7.1 Dorset Council did support the decision made in respect of the 2021/2022 Community Governance Review moving the boundary to its current line along the A35 with this being a fixed geographical point. However, following information provided by the local ward members, the council accepted that the line proposed by the petitioners and respondents to the initial consultation did offer a good natural boundary. The council took all consultation responses into consideration and felt that a slight change to the line proposed by the petitioners was appropriate to achieve good community governance and cohesion. The draft recommendations agreed by Dorset Council for consultation are set out at Appendix A with the proposed new boundary being shown by a black dashed line. At Appendices B and C the western and eastern line of the boundary between the parishes is shown in closer detail.
Map showing the proposed new boundary between Loders and Shipton Gorge parishes. At the top of the map is shown the parish of Loders, with the parish of Shipton Gorge immediately below. Parts of adjoining parishes are also shown for context. The current parish boundaries are shown by a thick purple line. The proposed new boundary, to include Boundary Cottage, High Rigg and Innsacre within the parish of Shipton Gorge, is shown by a black dashed line. Place names and the names of some properties, such as farms, are shown, as well as the outlines of buildings, and roads and topographical features.
Please note, the map may be difficult to access for some users so we have also provided the following location description:
Map showing a close-up of the western line of the proposed new boundary between Loders and Shipton Gorge parishes. At the top of the map is shown the parish of Loders, with the parish of Shipton Gorge immediately below. The current parish boundary is shown by a thick purple line. The proposed new boundary is shown by a black dashed line. The names of some properties, such as farms, are shown, as well as the outlines of buildings, roads and topographical features.
Please note, the map may be difficult to access for some users so we have also provided the following location description:
Map showing a close-up of the eastern line of the proposed new boundary between Loders and Shipton Gorge parishes. At the top of the map is shown the parish of Loders, with the parish of Shipton Gorge immediately below. The current parish boundary is shown by a thick purple line. The proposed new boundary is shown by a black dashed line. The names of some properties, such as farms, are shown, as well as the outlines of buildings, roads and topographical features.
