CORNWALL Council has expressed disappointment that there is a proposal still in place for a Bideford, Bude and Launceston cross-border constituency, known as ‘Devonwall’ — with Launceston’s town crier saying the threat to Cornwall ‘cannot be understated’.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) has launched a second consultation, and said it is ‘once again asking the public to help shape plans to change Parliamentary constituency boundaries’.

BCE has been asked to make independent recommendations about where the boundaries of English constituencies should be, following a decision by Parliament to reduce the number of constituencies in the UK to 600 from 650, and to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is equal.

An initial 12-week consultation was held in the autumn last year, giving the public the first chance to view and comment on BCE’s plans. Almost 20,000 responses were submitted.

These representations are available to view at www.bce2018.org.uk

Cornish Bard Rob Tremain, of Launceston, told the BCE: “I protest most strongly against the Boundary Commission proposals to merge North Cornwall with Devon. Cornwall deserves to be treated as a special case. Cornwall is not part of England. Cornwall is an important part of Great Britain, united but different.

“The Government recognised us as a National Minority in 2014 and we were to be treated the same as the Welsh, Irish or Scottish, and our historic border should be protected. Where do the boundary changes leave the devolution deal? The threat to Cornwall’s integrity and identity cannot be understated.”

Launceston Town Councillors unanimously objected to Devonwall, requesting that ‘Cornwall’s integrity is respected’ by the Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries.

Launceston’s mayor Brian Hogan told the Post: “Cornwall has got great history. The Cornish are very proud people and rightly so. They all want to keep their historic boundaries and I’m sure people in Devon feel exactly the same.”

On the BCE wanting to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is equal, Cllr Hogan added: “While we have close associations already with Devon — Lifton, St Giles, Holsworthy — it’s all about number crunching. Once all these houses are built there will be more than enough [people].

“I wish the Boundary Commission would take notice of the inhabitants of the counties and what they are saying.”

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “We are very disappointed by the decision of the Boundary Commission to formally propose a Bideford, Bude and Launceston cross-border constituency as part of its 2018 review of parliamentary boundaries.

“As we said in our robust submission to the commission, we strongly object to this proposal which would create a new constituency crossing the historic border between Cornwall and Devon for the first time in Cornwall’s history.

“As well as destroying the integrity of Cornwall’s historic border, which would cause great distress to numerous residents, this proposal also conflicts with the spirit and intent of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

“We strongly believe there are cultural, legal, geographic and political reasons to maintain our border in terms of Parliamentary representation and we will be lobbying Parliament and calling on the Boundary Commission to rethink this proposal.”

On the other side of the border, Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon Geoffrey Cox agrees the latest proposal is ‘flawed’. He said: “I am disappointed that the Boundary Commission of England has not revised its flawed proposal to create a cross-border constituency between Devon and Cornwall despite the immense opposition represented by local people to these plans.”

However, this proposal appears to have divided opinion in Devon. Mayor of Holsworthy Jon Hutchings does not believe Devonwall is a ‘flawed proposal’ but thinks it may be of benefit to Holsworthy in the future. He said: “My personal thoughts on the proposed Devonwall are that it’s a great thing for Holsworthy. We are out on a limb at the moment but we will be slap bang in the centre of the new constituency.

“As far as Torridge goes we are down in a corner, tucked away — I feel we miss out on a lot because we are almost forgotten down here.

“At this stage I’ve not got a clue how much this will affect what we do in Holsworthy, if it will at all — I don’t think anyone really knows!

“As a town we will have more in common, I think, with people towards the coast in the new constituency than we do at the moment with towns like Barnstaple and Bideford. I don’t think that geographically we are at an advantage in Torridge and this change will be good because our needs differ so greatly from theirs, and in becoming central to the new Devonwall we will be in the midst of it all with people having to drive through us instead of going around.

“At the moment however I think it is a case of just wait and see what happens!”

People can have their say until March 27 about other suggestions made during the first consultation in BCE’s second consultation. Visit www.bce2018.org.uk

Sam Hartley, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Public input is invaluable throughout the 2018 Boundary Review. Comments made during both consultations will help us develop a well-rounded picture of how local communities live and work together across the country. This local knowledge will be essential when we revise our proposals. Any changes will be based on your comments so it’s important to have your say.”