RIBBLE Valley Conservative Association is consulting its member and local residents on opposing the Electoral Commission's controversial proposals for a revised Parliamentary constituency for the area.

They would see the seat lose three wards in the borough - Whalley and Painter Wood; East Whalley Read and Simonstone; and Langho and Billington - to neighbouring Hyndburn.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has condemned the changes saying: "I’m hugely disappointed at the proposals that would see large parts of the Ribble Valley being carved up."

Brough councillor for Whalley and Painter Wood, Cllr Ged Mirfin, set up a petition opposing the changes.

Now the Ribble Valley Conservative Association has joined in opposing them after a meeting of its officers and management team.

Ken Hind, the constituency's campaign co-ordinator and agent, said: "We decided on a fourfold strategy: to argue as far as possible to preserve the current Ribble Valley constituency; to consult all our members on their views and listen to those expressed by the public; to circulate plans put forward for the Parliamentary boundaries to all our members to seek their views; and to put together a proposal for the future boundaries for the Ribble Valley once our consultation has finished and put our agreed plan to the Electoral Commission.

"We emphasise the Parliamentary boundary changes will have no impact on the Ribble Valley and South Ribble Boroughs which make up the current Parliamentary constituency.

"We urge residents to go on the Commission web site to read the proposals and express their views.

"It is only by doing this that their views will be considered by the decision makers at the commission and they will have an impact on the formulation of future boundaries."