PROPOSALS for a new parliamentary seat that lumps Okehampton with a suburb of Plymouth have come under fire.
One leading councillor for the town when asked for her view of the constituency shake-up announced last week said her comments would be unprintable.
Okehampton and the Lew Valley are currently located within the Central Devon constituency, which also includes Crediton, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh.
The new changes, proposed by the Boundary Commission for England, link these communities into one constituency due to the A386 linking the towns and the outskirts of Plymouth, and the A30 connecting areas in the north of a new constituency.
Okehampton's current constituency, Central Devon is itself a new creation — it was created for the 2010 general election, following a review of parliamentary representation in Devon.
County councillor Christine Marsh feels another shake-up can only have a disruptive effect: 'I think a lot of my opinions are unprintable.
'Okehampton only joined its currently constituency at the last election, and now things are settled it's got to face another upheaval. Joining up the constituency in this way seems nonsensical.
'Plympton is part of Plymouth. It seems the people organising these changes and breaking up the boundaries are merely looking at numbers on a computer screen rather than looking at voting centres and how places are truly related to one another.
'We are just on the edge of the Central Devon constituency, but we relate much more to Exeter than to Plymouth as we're so much closer.
'The moves make no sense. If these changes go ahead it will be a terrible shame.'
Central Devon MP Mel Stride echoed Cllr Marsh's sense of disappointment: 'At the moment I am deeply disappointed that Okehampton and the Lew Valley could fall outside of the Central Devon constituency.
'I am pleased that 90 per cent of Central Devon's voters will remain in the constituency. Having said that, I care a great deal about Okehampton and the surrounding area, having spent a great deal of time grappling with the town's issues and getting to know people in the town.'
Devon and Cornwall will lose one MP between them to comply with Government plans to cut the number of UK MPs from 650 to 600, reducing the number of constituencies from 533 to 502.
To compensate for the inclusion of Okehampton in a Tavistock and Plympton constituency, the Central Devon constituency would expand north to incorporate six Torridge district wards currently located in the Torridge and West Devon constituency, and south to incorporate the Teignbridge district ward of Kenton with Starcross.
The Boundary Commission is now carrying out its 12-week public consultation period. People can give their view by writing via post or e-mail or attending one of the public hearings being conducted throughout the 12 weeks.
The proposal is part of the 2013 review currently being conducted to decide the parliamentary boundaries on which the next general election will be fought, likely in 2015.
The public hearing for Devon takes place in Exeter Guildhall on Thursday November 17 and Friday November 18. Anyone is welcome to attend between 11am and 8pm on the first day or 9am and 5pm on the second day. People can register to speak at the hearing on their website consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/public-hearings/exeter/
People can give their views to the Boundary Commission by e-mailling [email protected]">[email protected] or by post: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ.
Alternatively, Mr Stride is keen to hear views on the changes. To contact him e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]