Political constituencies map faces upheaval
MARKET Harborough should share an MP with Daventry as part of reforms to parliamentary constituencies, a political group has said.
The suggestion by the South Leicestershire Conservative Association is in response to a review by the Boundary Commission which proposes that Lutterworth, Broughton Astley and the surrounding villages become part of the Daventry constituency.
A second suggestion which would also see changes to Harborough’s Parliamentary constituency – held since 1992 by Conservative MP Edward Garnier – has been put forward by the Lib Dems.
The Commission, which is aiming to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600 by 2015, published its proposals last September and asked for responses from the community, councils and political groups.
The deadline for comments on those responses is midday on Tuesday (April 3).
The Commission proposed no changes for Harborough but its plans for Lutterworth have proved unpopular, with both Lutterworth Town and Broughton Astley Parish councils raising objections.
The proposal by SLCA would see the creation of a revised Daventry constituency, renamed Daventry and Market Harborough, which would include wards from Daventry district as well as Kibworth, Lubenham and Market Harborough.
A new Blaby and South Leicestershire constituency would include Blaby as well as Lutterworth, Broughton Astley, Fleckney and Great Glen.
Oadby and Wigston – currently part of Harborough constituency – would join with Aylestone, Eyres Monsell and Knighton to form a new constituency.
Peter Fuchs, chairman of the SLCA, told the Mail the group made the proposals because it feels the Lutterworth area has nothing in common with Daventry.
But their alternative suggestion has met with opposition from Harborough, Oadby and Wigston Conservative Association, who also feel their constituency has no links with Daventry.
“Harborough constituency, which includes Oadby and Wigston, has a good cross-section of urban and rural areas, with good road links and social connections,” said Lesley Bowles, of the association.
She was also critical of the Lib Dem plan, which would see a new Harborough constituency created, including Market Harborough, Fleckney, Lubenham and Husbands Bosworth with Lutterworth and Broughton Astley and parts of Leicester including Cosby, Enderby and Narborough.
That suggestion would also see Great Glen, Kibworth, Oadby and Wigston join Thurnby, Houghton, Blaby and Countesthorpe to form a new Mid-Leicestershire constituency, while Billesdon, Tilton and Nevill wards would join Melton and Rushcliffe in a Vale of Belvoir constituency.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Saturday 25 May 2013
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