PROPOSALS to move Okehampton out of the West Devon and Torridge constituency under a parliamentary boundary reshuffle were slammed this week by the area?s MP John Burnett.

He said Okehampton was a focal point of the constituency, in a central location, describing the proposed boundary changes as a ?nonsense?.

?Okehampton is right in the centre of the constituency and provides a crucial link between the north and the south in what is the second largest geographical constituency in England,? said Mr Burnett.

Okehampton is where Mr Burnett locates his constituency office and he said if the town was incorporated in the proposed new mid-Devon constituency the ?absolutely vital link? between the townspeople and their MP would be jeopardised.

Mr Burnett said he had worked in Okehampton for almost 30 years. ?It is a tough constituency, but it is one I love.? he said.

Mr Burnett said some changes in parliamentary boundaries were required, particularly following Scottish and Welsh devolution.

?There are far far too many MPs, and every MP should have a constituency about the size of mine,? said Mr Burnett.

He said some parliamentarians only represented an electorate of around 55,000 while West Devon and Torridge had more than 80,000 electors.

Under the proposals set out by the Boundary Commission, which reviews the parliamentary constituencies in England every eight to 12 years, nine wards in the north of the borough, including Okehampton East and West, would be transferred to the Mid-Devon County Constituency.

The nine affected wards are Chagford, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Lew Valley, North Tawton, Okehampton East and West and South Tawton.

Under the Boundary Commission?s proposals Buckland Monachorum would be returned from the South West Devon constituency into the West Devon and Torridge boundary.

The revised West Devon and Torridge constituency would have an estimated electorate of 68,720.

Mr Burnett said he had arranged a meeting with the Boundary Commissioner to outline his opposition to the proposed changes.

The final recommendations could come into force before the next general election.

Tony Rose, West Devon Borough Council committee and election officer, said a response to the proposals was being prepared by the borough chief executive in consultation with the council?s three group leaders.

Maps illustrating the proposed constituencies can be inspected at West Devon Borough Council offices in Okehampton and Tavistock. Representations on the proposal should be submitted before June 15.

Okehampton town clerk Don Bent said the matter was due to be discussed by councillors at their policy and resources meeting at the start of next month.

The commission wants to redraw the map to form a new constituency in Mid-Devon to reduce the number of people attributed to Exeter, the electorate of which stood at 82,088 when the process began in February 2000.

These changes would establish a Mid-Devon county constituency comprising a number of wards from the city of Exeter, Mid-Devon and Teignbridge District Councils as well as West Devon, with an estimated electorate of 71,701.