A REVOLUTIONARY proposal could look to shake-up elections in Colchester forever by bringing the town together and creating two constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for England has opened a consultation for residents to have their say on how constituencies are drawn.

Colchester MP Will Quince has revealed he has suggested a new constituency is created in Colchester amid it being one of the country’s fastest growing towns.

Under his proposal, the Harwich and North Essex constituency, currently overseen by MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, would become Harwich and North Colchester.

This would span from Great Tey to Harwich, including Lexden and Braiswick, Dedham, Elmstead Market, Manningtree, Great Bentley and Great Oakley.

Read more >> Rowhedge in but Prettygate out? The changes planned for Colchester constituencies

A South Colchester constituency would then be created to develop what Mr Quince describes as a “logical alignment” based on community ties, social infrastructure usage and transport links.

This would see Prettygate, where Mr Quince lives, and Wivenhoe shift constituency, and join Berechurch, St John’s and St Anne’s, Greenstead, Old Heath and Hythe and West Mersea.

The MP accepted there will be “difficulties” arising from trying to create an appropriate formula for Colchester.

He added: “The local government boundary review of 2016 which led to a 51-member borough of Colchester, with three members in 17 wards, did lead to some less-than-ideal ward arrangements.

“As one of the fastest growing towns in the country, the parliamentary arrangements for Colchester will need to radically change.

“However, it is vitally important existing residents feel they are in a constituency where ties of the communities are acknowledged and best served, and Colchester is a predominate feature in the constituency make-up and title.”

Mr Quince continued: “The existing boundary changes take Prettygate and Lexden out of Colchester into a constituency which resembles the existing Harwich and North Essex constituency.

"Prettygate is a quintessentially urban Colchester ward… taking a community that is in central Colchester and placing it with a constituency where Harwich is the predominant settlement makes no sense.”