People living in parts of Sefton and Knowsley could find themselves with a new MP under a major shake up of electoral boundaries.
The Boundary Commission for England has now opened its second stage consultation into plans to redraw the electoral map across the country, with local residents are being urged to have their say over the changes.
The commission is an independent body that determines parliamentary boundaries according to rules set down by Parliament, with those put into effect in 2020 requiring constituencies to have between 69,724 and 77,062 voters.
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In Sefton, there are currently three constituencies, taking up the areas of Bootle, Southport and Sefton Central.
Under the plans, all three would remain but parts of Ainsdale would be moved from Southport to Sefton Central and Southport would then take in parts of the Ribble Valley while Bootle would remain unchanged.
Over in Knowsley, the constituency boundary could be reduced to the south west of the borough with sections of Page Moss and Huyton becoming part of Liverpool's West Derby constituency.
Meanwhile, an area to the east of Prescot could be added to the constituency.
The plans attracted some controversy, particularly across Sefton, when first revealed last year.
While Southport's conservative MP Damien Moore and Sefton's conservative group welcome the plans, which could see four Tory-leaning wards being added to Southport, others were not so pleased.
Former Southport MP and Sefton Liberal democrat leader Cllr John Pugh called the plans "bonkers" adding that they "can only be the result of a bloodless mathematical exercise done on a Whitehall desk.”
Southport Labour had also condemned the plans, with chair Mhairi Doyle saying: "What is clear is that three of the four wards to be absorbed had a high Conservative vote share at the last local elections - so we are sure Southport's MP will be delighted at the prospect of these changes becoming reality.
"We'd ask that as many residents as possible actively engage with the process and contribute to the consultation to make their views known."
Urging residents to take part in the consultation, the second as part of the process, which could see the changes implemented in 2023, Sefton Council's chief executive Dwayne Johnson said: “This consultation will directly influence what is a very important democratic process and we could see considerable change to how our constituencies are laid out.
“Reviewing constituency boundaries is an essential process to make sure that individual voting is equal and fair and that residents are represented as best as they can be in Parliament.
“This is a very important consultation and every view, thought and representation will be considered so I would urge as many residents as possible to contribute before the deadline.”
People can have their say by visiting www.bcereviews.org.uk or writing to: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ and have until Monday, April 4 to make their views known.
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