ANGRY residents have hit out at plans to controversially re-shape Bromsgrove’s boundaries, which would axe eight wards and see and Droitwich Spa “lumped in”.

As revealed by The Advertiser in September, lofty plans to alter parliamentary boundaries would force a combined Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa constituency to emerge.

The plan is part of The Boundary Commission for England's (BCE) 2018 Boundary Review, which aims to reduce the number of MPs in the House of Commons from 650 to 600.

Bromsgrove residents taking part in a public consultation on the issue have slammed the proposals as a “disgrace”, arguing they “remove the voice of the electorate”.

And Droitwich residents are equally unhappy at the plans to move in with Bromsgrove – which they described as a town with “little or nothing to offer”.

Eight wards - Tardebigge, Barnt Green and Hopwood, Alvechurch Village, Alvechurch South, Wythall West, Wythall East, Drakes Cross and Hollywood - would also see big change.

All eight would be chopped out of the Bromsgrove boundaries and form a larger Redditch constituency – although many residents expressed “significant concerns”.

One Alvechurch resident said: “Our local council is Bromsgrove and I am not sure how a Redditch MP would effectively represent me if I needed more local support.

“Furthermore we are in the situation that whilst I live in Worcestershire for medical and postal purposes we come under Birmingham.

“So we will have the absurd outcome that our MP is Redditch, our councillors are Bromsgrove and most of our issues relate to Birmingham or Bromsgrove.”

Another added: “I am concerned about the proposal to move Alvechurch from the Bromsgrove constituency to Redditch.

“I think ideally that we should be represented by someone who has a personal stake in the area, who knows the district well, and can speak from personal experience, and with some authority about the needs and concerns of residents.

“Surely this has to be at the heart of democracy? That can only happen effectively if the area represented has some historical, social and cultural integrity and contiguity.

“I feel that Alvechurch and Bromsgrove have that, whilst Alvechurch and Redditch don't.”

Tardebigge residents also expressed concerns.

One said: “We are Bromsgrove residents but under the proposal would be counted as Redditch.

“We pay Bromsgrove council tax, have Bromsgrove GP's as our doctors, our children go to school in Bromsgrove and we shop in Bromsgrove.

“Our local councillor is a neighbour who sits on Bromsgrove council. Our current Bromsgrove MP lives less than a mile from us and knows the area.

“Planning rules and local development plans that affect us are all administered by Bromsgrove. We have no ties or affinity to Redditch.

“By voting for a Redditch MP we would lose the ability to have our say over the services that we use and affect us in our local area.”

While Redditch MP Karen Lumley would gain the eight Bromsgrove wards in her constituency, changes would also see Sajid Javid MP gain key parts of south Worcestershire.

Droitwich Spa, Dodderhill and Lovett and North Claines will move into the new combined Bromsgrove seat, taking 50 per cent of presiding MP Nigel Huddleston’s residents.

And those in Droitwich are equally unhappy at being “lumped” with Bromsgrove, claiming it has “little or nothing to offer”.

One Droitwich resident said: “Droitwich has little in common with Bromsgrove and is not even in the same District Council area.

“A far more sensible move would be to pair Droitwich with the rest of Wychavon, or with half of Worcester, to which we look and associate as our county town and main shopping centre.

“Droitwich patients go to hospital in Worcester, the best bus service goes to Worcester, the best shops are in Worcester.

“In short, we have much to do with Wychavon and with Worcester; we have little to do with Bromsgrove, which has little or nothing to offer us.

“Why then should we be lumped in with Bromsgrove, just to suit the government and the Electoral Commission?”

Residents also expressed concern in other areas, with one in Catshill calling the proposals a “disgrace” and “simply undemocratic”.

Another in Rubery felt the changes would “split the community” and “make cohesive representation near impossible”.

And an Upton Warren resident said she had “no issue” with boundary changes, but wanted to be part of a constituency to vote on facilities she would use.

A second consultation on the boundary commission runs until March 27, with final proposals set to be made in 2018. To respond and have your say, visit bce2018.org.uk.