RESIDENTS are being urged to engage in a public hearing about proposed boundary changes which could see parts of Weymouth moved into a different parliamentary constituency.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is holding a public hearing at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester on March 31 and April 1, as part of a consultation taking place on its proposed new map of constituencies in England.

The BCE published its initial proposals for new constituencies in June last year.

The proposals would see Chickerell regrouped into the South Dorset constituency, as well as Charlestown and Lanehouse.

Meanwhile Upwey and Broadwey would no longer be in the same constituency as Weymouth, and would switch to become part of West Dorset.

The provisional changes are being proposed because the BCE is required to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is more equal, and the number of constituents living in West Dorset is deemed to be too high.

The BCE is proposing that the villages of Sydling St Nicholas, Godmanstone, Cerne Abbas, Minterne Magna, Piddletrenthide, Piddlehinton and Buckland Newton transfer to the North Dorset constituency of Gillingham, Blandford and Verwood.

Under the proposals, just under 10 per cent of the existing 533 English constituencies remain the same. If adopted, it will mean the number of constituencies in England will increase from 533 to 543.

However the majority of Dorset is relatively unaffected, and would maintain its eight constituencies, with the boundaries for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole largely unchanged.

The commission has stressed that the proposals are provisional. It is not due to make its final recommendations to Parliament until July 2023.

Residents are now being invited to share their views in an eight-week consultation. During its first consultation, over 3,400 comments were sent in about the suggested changes from the South West region. The Commission received over 34,000 responses from the public in total, which are available to view on its consultation website bcereviews.org.uk.

The public now has the opportunity to help shape the constituency boundaries in their area by participating in the Boundary Commission for England’s six-week secondary consultation, which began on 22 February and will end 4 April 2022.

Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, Tim Bowden, said: “Constituency boundaries are changing, and this is your chance to have your say. Your feedback helps make our proposals the best they can be, and we’re looking forward to hearing from you during our secondary consultation.

"Our review of all constituencies in England is an important process. It will make sure each MP represents roughly the same number of electors across the country. Help us get our proposals for South West right - tell us your views at a public hearing or via bcereviews.org.uk before 4 April.”

West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: “This is one of the few opportunities for local residents affected by this change to share their opinion with the Boundary Commission about their proposals, especially if they think their village should remain in the same constituency as Dorchester."

To comment on the proposed changes, members of the public can respond in writing online via the consultation website bcereviews.org.uk, by email or letter, or in person at a public hearing. Responses must reach the Commission before the consultation closes April 4, 2022.