A PROPOSAL to change parliamentary boundaries which would put Okehampton in a new ward with parts of Exeter is to be fiercely contested by West Devon Borough Council at a public inquiry next month.
Mayor of West Devon Peter Hill will represent the views of the council at the inquiry in County Hall, Exeter on December 11.
At the enquiry he will object to the changes which the authority believes would lead to a greater dominance of the city over the rural community.
The proposed new Mid Devon Constituency would combine the highly populated Exeter City wards and sparsely populated rural wards of West Devon including Okehampton, Chagford, Hatherleigh, North and South Tawton.
Objections have been raised by some parish and town councils which would be affected
because of the mismatch of urban and rural populations.
They say there are vastly differing needs and reliance on and access to services such as transport, health, education and the future development of the rural economy.
Okehampton is the centre of the current West Devon and Torridge constituency, providing an essential community link, but would not be so under the proposal.
In a report to the borough council, the elections officer said a number of Exeter residents were seeking to have the name Exeter included in the proposed new constituency and there was a suggestion that the office would be in Exeter.
Having said that there was a large objection from people in the four affected wards of Exeter to the proposed boundary change ? Alphington, Cowick, Exwick and St Thomas.