MPs DISMAY AT GOVERNMENT HANDLING OF CORNISH BOUNDARIES

5.30.00pm GMT Wed 11th Mar 2009

Liberal Democrat MPs in Cornwall have expressed their dismay that the recommendations put forward by local councils on improving ward boundaries for Cornwall Council have been ignored by the Government.

The Department for Communities and Local Government confirmed last month that elections to the new unitary council will take place on 4 June this year based on draft electoral divisions approved by the Boundary Committee.

However the Department has refused to consider any improvements to the draft boundaries even where there was consensus between the parish, district and county councils on the nature of the changes that needed to be made.

In a letter to Local Government Minister John Healey, the MPs have called into question the Government's decision not to ask the Boundary Committee to incorporate changes when there was unanimous local support.

Commenting, Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy said:

"I am very disappointed that the Government has decided not to listen to the views of local communities - especially in cases where there was clear consensus on changes needed to improve ward boundaries for the new council."

Andrew George, MP for St Ives, added:

"To press on in spite of universal disagreement is surreal. The Government offered to go with the consensus. That's all we are proposing they do."