Boundary Commission recommend Halesowen and Stourbridge remain separate (From Halesowen News)

Boundary Commission recommend Halesowen and Stourbridge remain separate

1:20pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

THE Boundary Commission has changed its mind about merging Halesowen and Stourbridge into one constituency.

The plans to lump the two towns into one constituency and Rowley, Cradley Heath and Blackheath becoming Dudley South and Rowley Regis have been shelved.

The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all complained about the original Boundary Commission plans but the revised electoral map released today have taken into consideration the objections.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis will remain together but now incorporate Dudley Wood and Quarry Bank.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris said: “I am pleased that the Boundary Commission has listened to the strong message, from right across the local community and across all political parties, that Halesowen and Rowley Regis should be retained as a separate parliamentary constituency.

“It is important that constituency boundaries reflect actual community boundaries and these revised proposals clearly do that much better than the Boundary Commission’s original plans.”

He added: “Although there is still some uncertainty about whether the new boundaries will get through Parliament, I will continue to work as hard as I can for all of residents of the current Halesowen and Rowley Regis constituency.”

Sandwell is still set to lose one of its MPs with West Bromwich East and West Bromwich West being scrapped to create a single seat called Wednesbury. Oldbury, will form part of a new seat called Dudley East and Oldbury.

However, for the new boundary changes to be enfoced they will still have to be passed in Parliament, which, if the Liberal Democrats not supporting the bill, will not happen.