Boundary commissioners have announced plans to create new Commons constituencies and shift boundaries across the country which could reduce the total number of MPs in England from 533 to 502 in time for a 2015 general election. Now it is not being proposed that Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Suffolk will lose any of their MPs, but the changes, if approved, could see the creation of a new Wisbech and Downham Market constituency across the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire county boundary with the current South West Norfolk and North East Cambridgeshire constituencies becoming no more. This constituency will take 13 wards from Fenland, including the towns of March and Wisbech, and 13 wards from West Norfolk, including Downham Market. The remaining 29 wards in West Norfolk, including the whole of the existing North West Norfolk constituency, will form a proposed King’s Lynn constituency. The public can have their say on these proposed changes during a 12-week consultation which launched today and will end on December 5. You can view the initial proposals in full by clicking here. People can then make representations in writing or in person after attending one of a series of public hearings being held during the consultation period. Norwich City Hall, in St Peter’s Street, will host a two-day public hearing on November 3-4. The address for written representations is: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ. Or e-mail [email protected] Downhamweb s Liz Pendleton says: “I think it’s a very interesting development and one I will be watching very carefully to see what impact it will have on the local economy. It feels a little like we could be in danger of losing our independence. Both areas have different needs and I don’t think Downham Market should be grouped with Wisbech and March.” Downhamweb has also spoken to Downham Market mayor Val Starling about the proposed changes. She told us: “We will just have to wait and see how this cross-county constituency is going to work. At the end of the day, Downham Market is still going to be part of West Norfolk and I think it will be more of an issue for the MP having to deal with two different councils.“
