Lib Dems angry over moving Elmbridge to Tewkesbury

The Liberal Democrats have branded proposals to move Elmbridge out of Gloucester and into Tewkesbury as "farcical".

The Boundary Commission for England has published its revised proposals for the review of parliamentary boundaries.

Under the plan the Elmbridge area of Gloucester will be represented by an MP from a town 12 miles away and join neighbouring Longlevens in the Tewkesbury constituency.

The Liberal Democrats have long argued for Longlevens to return to Gloucester and have criticised the Boundary Commission for England for ignoring community and identity and concentrating on the numbers.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, said: "It is bitterly disappointing the concerns of local residents have been ignored by the Boundary Commission.

"It is completely farcical to take another chunk out of Gloucester just to fit an arbitrary size of a constituency.

"The key to this review is identity and community and identity and community have been ignored.

"We're pleased Barnwood is being retained within the boundaries of Gloucester but by taking out Elmbridge the heart is being ripped out of the city. I know local residents will be really angry about this.

"If you travel from Tesco in Brockworth in a straight line along the Hucclecote Road into the city centre you pass through the North Cotswolds, Gloucester, Tewkesbury and then back into the Gloucester constituency. It's utterly daft."

Under the initial proposals, the Boundary Commission also suggested moving Barnwood out of Gloucester and into the Tewkesbury constituency.

Gloucester Liberal Democrats opposed this and put forward an alternative plan, which would have seen the newer and more self-contained community of Quedgeley joining the neighbouring Hardwicke in the North Cotswolds constituency.

Liberal Democrat councillors for Barnwood, Elmbridge and Longlevens also addressed public hearings held by the Boundary Commission in Gloucester to speak out against the proposals.

Councillor Hilton added: "The furthermost boundary of Elmbridge is less than a mile from the city centre.

"You can hear the roar from Kingsholm on match days - yet Longlevens and Elmbridge will be represented by an MP from a town 12 miles away.

"The Boundary Commission says the City of Gloucester is too large to be a single constituency. The limit of a 5% variation in constituency sizes is hurting Gloucester."

A final consultation has now been launched and residents have until December 5 to have their say on the proposals.

Comments can be submitted at www.bcereviews.org.uk.