STOURBRIDGE and Dudley South MPs have welcomed new boundary proposals aimed at reducing the number of constituencies from 650 to 600.

Both Margot James and Mike Wood say the latest plans, drawn up by the Boundary Commission, beat the original proposals which were first published in September 2016 to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is equal.

Conservative MP Ms James said: "I am positive about the proposed changes, and I am particularly very pleased the proposals maintain the entirety of the present Stourbridge constituency, since there was previously a threat that I might lose the Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood ward."

Under the new plan, Ms James would inherit part of the Brierley Hill ward that was previously in Dudley South.

Tory MP Mr Wood said: "I think these proposals are far better than the initial proposals that the Boundary Commission published last year and it’s encouraging that they have listened to the feedback they received in the public consultation.

"There are still a few changes that could be made to make them even better, with some of the Boundary Commission’s suggestions looking great on a map but not really reflecting traditional community boundaries in Dudley.

"However, it is important that we do have updated boundaries to make sure that constituencies are roughly the same size and to reflect development that has happened since the current boundaries were compiled in the early 1990s."

Neighbouring Dudley North Labour MP Ian Austin, however, has branded the latest proposal a "complete dog's breakfast" and said: “Whoever designed this has clearly got no clue about the geography of the Black Country.”

Essentially the existing four constituencies that fall within the borough would become three - Stourbridge, Dudley and Halesowen and Rowley Regis, with parts of the old Dudley North constituency falling to into the new Wolverhampton South and Coseley constituency.

Commission chiefs say they have reflected on all written comments received during two consultations, held last year and in spring this year, and Sam Hartley, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “The new map of the country is, we think, close to the best set of Parliamentary constituencies we can achieve, based on the rules to which we work and the evidence given to us by local citizens.

“But we still want people to tell us what they think of this latest map before we make our final recommendations to Parliament next year.”

People have until December 11 to have a final say on the latest proposals which can be viewed online at www.bce2018.org.uk.

Following this third and final consultation, Boundary Commissioners will consider the evidence submitted and make their final recommendations before submitting them to Parliament in September 2018.

If agreed by Parliament, the new constituencies will be in use at the next scheduled General Election in 2022.