PROPOSALS for a boundary shake-up affecting the parliamentary constituencies of Maidstone and the Weald and Ashford are under fire from MPs and parish councils.

The net effect would leave the MP for Maidstone and the Weald dealing with constituents served by three different local councils while Ashford’s interests at Westminster would be represented by four different MPs.

Changes to the boundaries of Maidstone and the Weald would see Hawkhurst and Sandhurst wards transfer to Tunbridge Wells constituency, a move which the Commission says will even out the size of the two seats.

However, Maidstone and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe said she opposed the switch. “What is suggested is a serious nonsense. It would leave me dealing with constituents from three different authorities. I would prefer to keep Hawkhurst and Sandhurst and not take Biddenden.”

The Boundary Commission for England’s most far-reaching proposal is for Ashford, which it says is becoming too big as a single constituency.

So it wants to allocate three of its wards to other parliamentary constituencies to even the numbers out.

Under the proposals, Biddenden would become part of the Maidstone and Weald constituency; the Saxon Shore ward would be transferred to Folkestone and Hythe while the Downs North ward would be incorporated into Canterbury.

Currently, the Ashford electorate stands at 80,152 - already more than 10,000 above the nominal quota of 69,934 and continuing to rise. The changes proposed would have the effect of giving Ashford an electorate of 68,655.

In a report outlining its plans, the Commission states: “We are aware that Ashford Borough would be divided between four seats but consider [we] have a duty to deal with the high and still increasing electorate of the Ashford seat.”

It cites the Government’s announcement that Ashford has been earmarked as an area for significant growth as a key factor in its recommendations.

Ashford MP Damian Green said the plan was half-baked. “The idea of Ashford being represented by four MPs is impractical,” he stressed.

If the changes to Ashford and Kent’s other parliamentary constituencies are agreed, they will come into force by Arpil 2007 at the latest.

Minor changes will also affect 15 of Kent’s other parliamentary constituencies with only Gravesham and Tonbridge and Malling unaffected.

BLOB: Full details of all the proposals can be seen on the Boundary Commission’s website at HYPERLINK http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/

Copies are also available at local libraries.

Comments on the proposals must be made by June 15 and can be sent to the Boundary Commission for England, PO Box 31060, London SWIV 2FF or e-mailed to HYPERLINK mailto:alan.bannister@ons.gov.uk .