Towns will divorce but marry into other areas
They say divorce can be one of life’s most painful experiences, but the imminent split of Malling from Tonbridge seems to have left voters remarkably undisturbed.
The Boundary Commission has announced its latest plans to reduce the country’s 650 Parliamentary seats to just 600.
Key among the local changes will be the break-up of Tom Tugendhat’s Tonbridge and Malling constituency, with West Malling, East Malling and Kings Hill joining a new Chatham and The Mallings constituency.
Tonbridge will start a new marriage with some villages currently in the Tunbridge Wells constituency, such as Pembury, Bidborough Five Oak Green and Capel.
We asked shoppers in West Malling how they felt about the change.
“I’m comfortable about it,” said Paul Newman, 62. “I don’t see why we can’t be just as well represented in one constituency as the other.”
Lady Jane Best-Shaw said: “It will be a much larger area for the MP to cover, but I don’t think that will make any difference.” She said she would be happy if Tracey Crouch turned out be her next MP: “I like her,” she said.
Christina Deacons, from East Malling, said: “I don’t understand why they are doing it, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m much more concerned about all the building going on the area. I moved down from London to get away from that.”
Janine Graham, from Kings Hill, was one of the few who welcomed the change. She said: “To be honest, it’s all very Tory round here, which means my vote doesn’t get represented.
“If mixing us in with Chatham gives other parties a chance, that would be a positive thing.”
Tracey Crouch, MP, who cur- rently represents Chatham and Aylesford, said: “While I am disappointed that the Boundary Commission still thinks Lordswood and Capstone ward (in Chatham) should be part of the Gillingham constituency, I support the principle behind the restructuring and I recognise that to make the numbers work there will be odd decisions like this taken.
“Meanwhile I look forward to working with Tom (Tugendhat) on the issues that affect the Malling wards he currently represents during the transition into my new constituency.”
Mr Tugendhat declined to give a comment.