NEW plans have been revealed to radically shake-up the borough's MP constituencies by dividing Walthamstow in two and scrapping proposals to merge Chingford and Edmonton.

The Boundary Commission has unveiled the revised proposals after months of consultation into its initial suggestions which were put forward last September.

It came after the government passed legislation in 2011 to cut the number of English MPs in Parliament from 533 to 502 and even out the amount of people living in each constituency.

Last September the Boundary Commission proposed creating a new Edmonton and Chingford seat along with the creation of a new Stratford constituency incorporating parts of Leyton and Leytonstone.

The remaining areas were due to be joined with an otherwise largely unchanged Walthamstow seat.

But now the commission wants to cut Walthamstow in half, merging the area north of Forest Road with Chingford, along with the Wood Street area and Upper Walthamstow.

The southern half will then be joined with Leyton and Leytonstone.

Under the plans Walthamstow would cease to exist as a named constituency, with the borough divided into 'Chingford' and 'Leyton' seats.

Proposals to create a new Wanstead and Woodford constituency remain unchanged.

A new consultation into the revised proposals has now been launched before final plans are submitted to the government next year.

POLITICAL REACTION

Walthamstow’s Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “Speaking firstly as a local resident I’m very shocked, I  think we all are, especially as the original proposals from the commission recognised Walthamstow as a consistent constituency.


“The commission’s report is full of inconsistencies as to how it describes the area.


“Chingford, Leyton and Walthamstow are all different from each other and that needs to be recognised. Walthamstow needs a voice and I have serious concerns that this would have an impact on the engagement of residents in the political process.


“It’s so important that if people feel strongly about this that they get involved and make their views known to the commission.


“I’ve been overwhelmed by people already saying what can we do to save Walthamstow.”


Ms Creasy said she was also concerned that Waltham Forest contained a high number of unregistered voters which the commission had not taken into account.


She plans to hold a public meeting on the issue although the date and location is yet to be arranged.

The Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party also said the new proposals were "disastrous". 

Its chair Simon Redfern said the proposals were contradictory because the new Chingford seat would cut across the North Circular road, despite the commission describing it as a "natural boundary".

He added: "We also feel strongly that Walthamstow, which is in the Domesday book, deserves a voice in parliament which reflects its status as a coherent community and that Chingford and Leyton do too as distinctive localities.

"Without a reversal of this arbitrary decision there is a real risk the creation of new constituencies in neighbouring boroughs will fatally undermine Walthamstow's vibrant community spirit with disastrous consequences for democracy and civic society."

Dr Greg Eglin, chair of the Leyton and Wanstead Constituency Labour Party, said his group were still discussing the implications of the proposals and did not yet have a position on them.

Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said he was "frustrated" by the proposals.

But he indicated he would rather stand for election in Chingford if plans to divide his constituency were approved.

He said in a statement: "I am frustrated that I will be losing Woodford from the proposed new parliamentary boundaries, a community that I have represented in Parliament since 1997.

"Woodford is a fantastic place with a fantastic sense of community spirit and I will find it hard to let go.

"I will remain the Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green until the next General Election and I will always have Woodford Green and its issues at the heart of everything that I do, I will write to the Boundary Commission and express my frustration with their recommendation.

"Until such times as it changes life carries on and what ever happens I will stand up for Woodford Green and the issues that are raised".

 

Cllr Michael Lewis, deputy group leader of Waltham Forest Council’s Conservative group, said: “I’d prefer them not to touch the boundaries at all but there does have to be a change.


“Many of us will be disappointed about being broken up with our colleagues [in Woodford Green] but pleased that the proposal to include some wards in Enfield with Chingford has been dropped.

"When you consider there’s several miles of reservoirs and industrial estates between the two population centres it’s not common sense to join them together.


“I think the new constituency, if it goes through, will make things a lot tighter and make it very interesting during general election time.


“I’d be pleased if Iain Duncan Smith does stay with us in Chingford as we’ve known him for twenty years and worked very closely with him.”


He added that the local Conservative Party was yet to reach an official position on the proposed boundary changes but would meet to discuss them shortly.

The Guardian has approached the borough's remaining MP, Labour's  Leyton and Wanstead representative John Cryer, but he is yet to comment.