Area boundary plans revealed
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THE parliamentary constituency of Halton is poised to be redrawn and renamed after final recommendations for the redrawing of the nation’s political map were revealed.
Under the plans, Halton would become ‘Widnes And Runcorn’.
According to the Boundary Commission For England (BCE) proposals, Halton would remain largely unchanged but gain Halton Lea ward in Runcorn from Weaver Vale.
Halton Lea ward encompasses Hallwood Park, Palacefields, Runcorn Shopping City and surrounding retail area, and part of Halton Lodge.
Weaver Vale would undergo a more dramatic change but retain parts of east Runcorn, Daresbury and Frodsham.
Its eastern boundary would move east to envelope Antrobus and Comberbach near Northwich, and westwards it would extend to encompass Ince and Elton, with some minor changes to its southern western corner reaching as far as Great Barrow on the outskirts of Chester.
Weaver Vale is held at present by Mike Amesbury MP, who claimed the seat for Labour.
Initial proposals to massively expand it south and westwards to Horton Green close to Wrexham were scrapped at an early redrafting phase.
The recommendations, which will slash the number of MPs from 650 to 600, will now be voted on by both Houses Of Parliament.
Labour has accused the Conservatives of a power grab, after it was revealed that some of the seats to be axed include Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s.
Sam Hartley, secretary to the BCE, said: “The recommendations we’ve published today mark the end of a thorough and consultative process to build the new map of constituencies.
“We’ve travelled the country, taken account of over 35,000 public comments, and heard many impassioned views about how best to reflect local communities in our recommendations, while ensuring that constituencies are all much more equally represented.
“We’re confident the map we propose today is the best match of the legal rules parliament have set us.
“It’s now up to Parliament to decide whether these boundaries will be used at the next general election.”
View the recommendations at www.bce2018.org.uk