COLCHESTER MP Will Quince said proposed boundary changes to his constituency are “the least-worst option”.

Mr Quince revealed his submission to the Boundary Commission after a report revealed revised changes to its plans to revamp constituencies.

The initial changes proposed would have seen Colchester gain Rowhedge from Harwich and North Essex, but lose Lexden and Braiswick, as well as Prettygate, to the same seat.

Initial proposals would have also seen Mersea and Pyefleet go to Witham, adding to existing Colchester areas like Stanway, Marks Tey and Layer.

But in its fresh report, the commission plans to include Old Heath and the Hythe, alongside Rowhedge and Mersea, in the Harwich and North Essex constituency.

The report said: “Including the Old Heath and the Hythe ward provides a stronger link between Mersea and Pyefleet and the rest of the constituency, as it contains Fingringhoe Road, which becomes Old Heath Road, and the Colne Causeway bridge – the first bridge crossing the River Colne when driving from Mersea to Harwich.

“Furthermore, the town of Wivenhoe has links to the village of Rowhedge via the foot ferry.

“We acknowledge a significant portion of the Old Heath and the Hythe ward is in the existing Colchester constituency and has close community ties to the city.

“However, this is true of any of the other options, such as the Greenstead, St. Anne’s and St. John’s, Highwoods, or Mile End wards.

“Old Heath and the Hythe is the only ward out of these options that has a significant portion already included in the existing Harwich and North Essex constituency.”

The fresh plans would see the Lexden and Braiswick ward split, with its urban polling districts divided from the rest of the ward by the A12 and the railway line included in the Colchester constituency.

The rural half of the ward would remain in the Harwich and North Essex constituency.

Prettygate will now remain a part of the Colchester constituency, with the report describing the ward as “an integral part of Colchester, with strong transport links, close geographical proximity, historical links and community ties regarding schools and other establishments”.

Mr Quince said: “I want to stress that I regret Old Heath and The Hythe will be removed from the Colchester constituency under the revised proposal, but I welcome the honesty in the comprehensive rationale in stating that as the Colchester constituency has to reduce in size, ‘that it is clear that none of the options is without negative consequences’.

“Given the comprehensive and persuasive rationale as set out in the commission’s explanatory notes, I support the proposals and think the commission has identified not just the most sensible and practical proposal, but also the least worst option.

“I welcome that the revised proposal has reflected the considerable local concern of removing Prettygate and Lexden and Braiswick from the Colchester constituency.

“The decision to retain Prettygate and Lexden and Braiswick and instead remove Old Heath and The Hythe is without doubt the least disruptive option as it means fewer constituents move to a new parliamentary constituency.”

He added: “The proposal also means Rowhedge residents continue to live in the Harwich and North Essex constituency.

“I further welcome that the commission’s revised proposal has achieved Sir Bob Russell’s aim of retaining ‘a single, compact and wholly urban Colchester constituency with minimal change’.

“The commission rightly recognised Prettygate and Lexden and Braiswick are not just physically very close to the centre of Colchester but have little to no connection to the coastal town of Harwich.

“Old Heath and Hythe Ward however, is the historic port of Colchester and therefore logical, as the commission conclude, in linking communities that share a coastal and maritime character.

“Under the commission’s revised proposal, the coastal and maritime communities of the Hythe, Rowhedge, Mersea, Alresford, Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea would all be represented by the same Member of Parliament.”