Plans to divide village going ahead

Published on 24/10/2003 01:00

PLANS to divide a village into two separate constituencies will be pushed through, despite objections from local residents.

Under the move announced by the Boundary Commission for Scotland, the village of Blackburn will be split between West Lothian and Falkirk constituencies.

But officials have heeded further complaints by keeping the communities of Bridgend and Winchburgh in the same constituency as Linlithgow.

The provisional proposals for parliamentary constituency boundaries in the Falkirk and West Lothian Council areas had been published in February last year.

Objections to the proposals led to a public inquiry in Livingston last October. Revised proposals were then published in June.

Those triggered 46 letters in favour and against. Residents protested against the proposed division of Blackburn into separate constituencies and the separation of Bridgend and Winchburgh from Linlithgow.

Concerns were also raised over population growth in West Lothian. A Boundary Commission spokesman said: "The commissioners... have decided not to amend the revised recommendations in respect of Blackburn."

He admitted the situation was "not perfect" but said keeping Blackburn in the same constituency would have "radical knock-on effects".

The spokesman added: "A similar situation arises with Bridgend and Winchburgh in relation to Linlithgow, however, they retain their link within a single constituency."