‘out of touch proposals drawn up by some London quango’ – Keep Moorview in Plymouth
Leading figures in Plymouth have reacted angrily to plans by the London-based Boundary Commission quango to redraw the Parliamentary boundaries in Plymouth.
Under the proposals first announced last year and strongly opposed on a cross-party basis in Plymouth the Moor View ward that covers Estover, Leigham and Thornbury and includes Derriford Hospital, University College Plymouth St Mark and St John, the airport site and 10,000 residents would be removed from Plymouth and given to the MP for Okehampton. Under the revised proposals Moor View ward would now be represented by the MP for Tavistock.
A strong campaign mounted against the proposals say over a thousand people oppose the Boundary Commission’s plan with a simple message: Keep Moorview in Plymouth. Today, the Boundary Commission confirmed that it intends to ignore concerns and press on with its plan to remove Moorview from Plymouth.
Alison Seabeck, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, said: “The Boundary Commission has chosen to ignore the strongly expressed concerns of Plymouth residents in pushing ahead with their flawed plans. This is not an issue which will go away. Parliament needs to debate these matters and I will be expressing the views of my constituents to the Coalition Government which is responsible for this unnecessary change. I am calling on Plymothians to back the campaign to keep the Moor View Ward in Plymouth.”
Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council, said: “I’m appalled by these out of touch proposals drawn up by some London quango. Ripping Estover and Leigham out of Plymouth and giving it to the market town of Tavistock 12 miles away is madness.
“I call on Gary Streeter and Oliver Colvile to back Alison Seabeck in opposing these damaging plans by voting against them in the Commons. People of Plymouth expect their MPs to stand up for our city. This is the time to show whether our MPs put Plymouth or their party first.”
Cllr Alison Casey, ward councillor for Moorview said: “The people I represent are proud to live in Plymouth, proud to be Plymothians and want to have a Plymouth MP representing them in Parliament. We will continue to fight every step of the way against these proposals that will do so much damage to our community.”
You can have your say on a special Facebook page that has been launched to oppose the Boundary Changes in Plymouth: www.facebook.com/KeepMoorviewinPlymouth
(from a press release)
