Constituency battle - Market town may lose its MP (From Stroud News and Journal)

Constituency battle - Market town may lose its MP

MINCHINHAMPTON will not give up its MP without a fight, parish councillors have promised.

The council has asked former Stroud District planning committee chairman Roy Nicholas to defend its case next year in a battle over parliamentary constituencies.

Earlier this year the Boundary Commission announced plans to move half the Minchinhampton parish to the Cotswold District. This means the market town would be linked to Cirencester instead of its nearer town Stroud.

If the plans go ahead, residents would no longer have the chance to be represented by David Drew or his successor.

The changes would probably be implemented within seven years.

A public inquiry is to be held at the council chamber, county hall, Gloucester on Tuesday, February 25 at 10.30am.

Any interested parties, including Cllr Nicholas, will have a chance to make their views heard.

Parish clerk Diana Wall said: "These changes would mean Amberley would stay with the Stroud constituency but the rest of the Minchinhampton parish would move to the Cotswolds.

"We are only three miles from Stroud but Cirencester is much further.

"We have had letters from individuals who didn't like the thought of us playing the numbers game.

"So the council asked Councillor Nicholas to look after its interests."

Opponents to the proposed scheme claim it is the product of gerrymandering to strengthen Labour's hold in Stroud.

* Voters from the Stroud area might also soon find themselves in a different district for local elections.

The Boundary Committee is currently conducting a review into whether to update county electoral divisions.

Any changes would be in time for the 2005 county council elections.

The committee is studying information and opinions and will announce changes in May 2003.

For the latest on local political issues, see this week's Stroud News & Journal.