Councillor blasts 'absurd' proposals to split up Moray
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A councillor has branded the boundary commission's latest proposals for Moray as "absurd" and urged local people to make their feelings known.
Under the proposals Moray would be sliced in half and become part of two new UK parliamentary constituencies.
Elgin, Forres, Lossiemouth, Rothes and Dufftown would all become part of ‘Nairn Strathspey and Moray West’, along with Kingussie, Nairn and Aviemore.
Buckie, Keith and Cullen, meanwhile, would be incorporated into ‘Aberdeenshire and Moray East’, which will stretch all the way to Peterhead.
Councillor Ben Williams (Fochabers/Lhanbryde, Labour) is questioning the need to split up Moray at all.
He said: "It is absurd that the Boundary Commission for Scotland feels the need to break up Moray.
"We already have a cohesive community, where people know their representatives.
"The fact that our constituency mirrors our Local Authority area means that it streamlines the electoral process, and provides people with a very clear sense of who their representatives are.
"To break that up is simply nonsensical."
The latest proposals replace ones suggested by the boundary commission earlier this year, which would have seen Moray split into three rather than two.
The commission is seeking to balance the numbers of people who live in parliamentary constituencies ahead of the next Westminster elections.
Cllr Williams added: "There are areas in the east of Moray which have historic ties to Banffshire and Aberdeenshire.
"However the Fochabers/Lhanbryde area has been within Moray, and previously Elginshire, for centuries.
"To move it into another constituency is entirely illogical."
Cllr Williams is encouraging folk to take part in the consultation which the Boundary Commission is running regarding its proposals between now and the end of Monday, December 5.
He added: "If you also disagree with Moray being split into different constituencies, breaking up our sense of community cohesion, we can make our voices heard."
Moray residents can view the proposals and submit their comments HERE
