PLANS unveiled by the Boundary Commission this week could mean that local MP Sir George Young will need to get a few extra gears on his bike and lengthen his stride if he wants to cover the much enlarged North West Hampshire Constituency.

Under the proposals, the new Andover-centred seat will stretch for more than 35 miles, covering everything from Canada, on the edge of Nomansland in the New Forest, to Tadley, north of Basingstoke. The current constituency is a mere 24 miles in length.

Put another way, the new seat would require 28,800 Sir Georges, laid end-to-end, to link its furthest points.

Changes are proposed as a result of the plans to reduce the number of MPs in the House of Commons by 50, which has led to the proposed dismemberment of the Romsey constituency, parts of which have been added to North West Hampshire.

Villages to the south of Andover, such as Stockbridge and King’s Somborne – currently in the Romsey constituency – will vote with Andover, if the plans are agreed.

Sir George said: “Since I first entered Parliament, I have held seats which have been enlarged, reduced and abolished altogether, so any impact which the commission’s initial proposals have on North West Hampshire will not be a major distraction to my constituency work or ministerial duties.

“These reforms are necessary because both coalition parties pledged to cut the cost of politics by reducing the number of MPs. The Commons is the largest directly elected national chamber in Europe. This change will bring us closer in line with other democracies and save £12 million a year.”

While the shake-up may not raise too many hackles in Andover, the proposals have been less well-received in Romsey, where the existing seat, currently held by Conservative Caroline Nokes, will be split three ways with the town of Romsey becoming part of New Forest East.

“The Boundary Commission is recommending a complete dismantling of the present Romsey and Southampton North constituency,” said Romsey’s county councillor Mark Cooper, who contested Romsey in 1997. The real problem is that Romsey’s four wards form a peninsula tacked on to the new designated constituency of New Forest East.”