A LOCAL charity boss was left so alarmed at plans to rearrange local constituencies that he has come up with its own alternative proposals.

Andy Walsh, chief executive of the Buttershaw-based Sandale Trust, said he hoped to convince the Boundary Commission to abandon plans to scrap the Bradford South constituency, and divide it between MPs in Halifax, Spen and Bradford West.

The current proposals form part of national plans to reduce the total number of MPs from 650 to 600.

But campaigners have been critical that the changes would see places such as the Bradford Bulls’ home at Odsal Stadium no longer represented by a Bradford MP.

Now Mr Walsh has formulated his own counter-proposals and sent them to the Boundary Commission for consideration.

Mr Walsh said he had got in touch primarily as the chief executive of the trust, which works within the communities of Woodside, Buttershaw and Holme Wood, but also someone who had lived in south Bradford for his whole life.

He said: “I just didn’t think it was right for the people I represent, and work supporting in the community, to have to get three buses to see an MP in Halifax, who would be representing Buttershaw.

“I understand they have to reduce the number of MPs but I just don’t think any clear thought has gone into it.”

His proposals would see each constituency have around 75,000 residents, as required by the review, and would see the district’s five constituencies be cut to four.

A new Bradford South-West seat would encompass the Council wards of Wibsey, Wyke, Tong, Great Horton, Royds, Clayton and Fairweather Green, Little Horton and part of Queensbury.

The Bradford East seat would be expanded to take in the city centre, Toller and Manningham wards, which currently fall in Bradford West, as well as taking on part of Windhill and Wrose, which currently falls in the Shipley seat.

The Shipley constituency would be expanded to take in the Heaton and Thornton and Allerton wards, currently in Bradford West.

And the Keighley constituency would expand to take on the Wharfedale ward, which is currently in the Shipley constituency.

Meanwhile, part of Queensbury would join the Halifax constituency.

A spokesman for the Boundary Commission for England said: “Our commissioners will be looking carefully in the coming months at the strength of the views expressed before deciding whether to revise the current proposals.”

She said people still had time to have their say, before the consultation ended on Monday, by visiting www.bce2018.org.uk.