Meon Valley MP set to lose his seat just a year after it was created (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Meon Valley MP set to lose his seat just a year after it was created

9:20am Thursday 15th September 2011 in Bishop's Waltham

MEON Valley MP George Hollingbery is set to lose his seat under sweeping Parliamentary changes just a year after it was created.

Mr Hollingbery could see his constituency swallowed up under boundary changes proposed by the government on Tuesday.

Winchester would also be affected with the Chandler’s Ford wards moving to Eastleigh, but replaced by areas in the Meon Valley.

It is part of a government plan to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 to create more evenly-sized constituencies and also cut costs by around £12m.

Mr Hollingbery said he understood the reasons for the changes. He said: “The Meon Valley is a wonderful constituency with a great group of people so it seems a shame that, after finally getting its own representation just a few years ago, it now looks likely to be taken away.

“At a time when huge numbers of people out there are losing jobs and having to make sacrifices it’s only right that Parliament should do the same.”

He added: “Today’s announcement though is not a fait accompli by any means and the situation could well change in many ways over the coming years.”

Around 40,000 voters will transfer from the Meon Valley to a new seat of Fareham and Horndean, while others will be absorbed by Winchester and Eastleigh.

The Winchester seat is set to lose four wards from the Eastleigh borough, including Chandler’s Ford and three Test Valley wards to Eastleigh.

Steve Brine, Winchester MP, said he thinks Parliament may be weakened by the reduction but that he remains focused on representing his constituents.

He said: “I think the people I represent are not actually that concerned about the technicalities of where each boundary lies, they want me to continue working hard on their behalf and respond promptly when they get in touch.

Defeated Winchester Lib Dem candidate Martin Tod said: “The draft boundaries are a slightly smaller version of the Winchester constituency as it was between 1997 and 2010 when Mark Oaten held it for the Liberal Democrats. However no-one knows how the final process will turn-out. Winchester’s not an island, so the final boundaries will be very dependent on what happens in neighbouring areas.”

City councillor Thérèse Evans, who represents Wickham, said voter confusion would likely increase in the Meon Valley.

She said: “This will be the fifth political constituency and that is very complicated for the voters to understand.

“It’s a pity to lose the Meon Valley seat after only one year but it’s difficult to say what |will happen until the reality is upon us.”

The shake-up also sees Caroline Nokes’s Romsey and Southampton North seat under threat, while Energy Secretary Chris Huhne faces his seat being split in two.

Mr Huhne could lose half his voters to a proposed Hedge End and Hamble seat but gain around 39,000 from other areas.

Romsey and Southampton North will be divided to create a New Forest East and Romsey seat while other voters in the constituency will come under North West Hampshire, Eastleigh and Southampton Test.

Ms Nokes said she agreed with the need for change but was worried about the fate of some of her constituents being moved into city seats.

She said: “In any process there are going to be winners and losers. I do have some concerns about the way parts have been divvied up and sent to different constituencies.”

The proposals will now go through a two-year period of consultation before any decisions are made.