MORE than 200 residents in Pendle have written letters to the Boundary Commission opposing a plan to form a new Clitheroe and Colne parliamentary constituency.

A campaign against the proposal, which was revealed earlier this month, is aiming to gather 1,000 letters to send to the independent body ahead of the 12-week public consultation deadline later this year.

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Incumbent Conservative MP for Pendle Andrew Stephenson has called for people across the borough to express their concerns and ‘fight’ for the constituency to stay as it currently is.

Under the review of House of Commons constituencies, Pendle would be abolished and heavily redrawn as well as the Ribble Valley and Hyndburn, being renamed.

Mr Stephenson and Tory colleague Nigel Evans, who currently represents the Ribble Valley, have already pledged to fight to selection for a new Clitheroe and Colne seat if the plan is approved.

Mr Stephenson, who was first elected in 2010 and is parliamentary private secretary to foreign secretary Boris Johnson, said that the letter writing had been started by Brierfield Town Council member Cllr Pauline McCormick.

He said: “The letters have so far come from the Reedley area where Clr McCormick has been leafleting.

“I 100 per cent back her efforts and I hope that we are able to do the same across the whole of Pendle because the end of the consultation.

“There are lots of people out there who do not want this plan to go ahead and we are trying to give them the chance to have their voices heard.”

The last time the Boundary Commission proposed to alter Pendle and the Ribble Valley the plan was overturned following a consultation.

His potential rival for the proposed new seat, Mr Evans, said that a similar campaign will be discussed at a meeting in his constituency next week.

He said: “This new plan would rip the heart out of the Ribble Valley and people just do not want it to happen.

“They tried to do something similar last time and it was all thrown out.

“I’m hoping that the same will happen this time around.

“We are hoping to launch a campaign against this and also send letters to the Boundary Commission.”

For more information or to take part in the consultation visit boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk.