MORE than 2,000 people have said it loud and clear – they do not want parts of the South West Bedfordshire constituency to be lost to Luton and Hemel Hempstead.
The Boundary Commission wants Dunstable’s Icknield, Northfields, Dunstable Downs and Watling wards to become part of a new Dunstable and Luton North constituency from 2015, and for Kensworth to fall under Dacorum.
But the proposals have prompted outcry, with people in Dunstable concerned that the town is too different from its near neighbour to sit comfortably within the same parliamentary constituency.
Presenting a petition of 2,000 signatures to the House of Commons last Tuesday, South West Beds MP Andrew Selous said people were “extremely keen” to stay within his constituency.
He told the Gazette: “I don’t think I’ve met anyone in Dunstable who thinks the proposed reorganisation is a good idea.
“Dunstable is much smaller than Luton, it’s a historic market town with close links to the South Beds countryside, and with Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.
“Luton is a large town with city aspirations and is much more diverse. It would make up two-thirds of the constituency so obviously Dunstable would get less attention.”
Mr Selous said it was nonsensical for Kensworth to become part of Dacorum, where Hemel Hempstead would be the main focus.
“It’s a question of where people identify with, and what community they look to,” he added.
Conservative campaigner and former Dunstable mayor Brenda Boatwright said the affected parts of Dunstable would become an “appendage” to Luton.
“I don’t think we have an affinity with Luton,” she said. “It is ridiculous how it has been split.
“Kensworth is miles away from Hemel Hempstead. I think communities are being forgotten.”
She said it would be confusing for people to be part of a different parliamentary constituency from others in Dunstable, but to share a local authority, Central Bedfordshire Council.
Watling ward councillor Ann Sparrow, who has been in charge of the online part of the petition, warned that Labour would face a tough challenge if the boundary changes were approved in October.
“Dunstable has been blue for a very long time,” she said. “If (Luton North Labour MP) Kelvin Hopkins is going to stand then he would have a very big fight on his hands.”