West Drayton/Yiewsley and Feltham constituency would be 'bad idea'

PROPOSALS to package West Drayton and Yiewsley with Feltham in a new parliamentary constituency have been criticised by residents.

A consultation is taking place on plans by the Boundary Commission (BC) to cut the number of MPs and alter constituency boundaries.

The BC proposed linking Hayes with Feltham, but Hillingdon Council, in its response to the consultation, suggests West Drayton and Yiewsley wards join Feltham for parliamentary election purposes.

At a full council meeting last week, Deputy Council Leader Douglas Mills said: "We will, before the end of the consultation period, present detailed proposals that ensure our residents are put first, by suggesting the main Hayes area is linked along the Uxbridge Road with Southall and a separate suggestion that the Yiewsley and West Drayton area is linked with the Feltham wards in Hounslow."

Les Sweeting, of West Drayton's Garden City Estate Residents' Association, is opposed to the solution put forward by Mr Mills.

He said: "What a disastrous proposal. Where is this council coming from to even suggest that there is any link between the communities of Yiewsley and West Drayton to Feltham? It would appear they want to cut us adrift for some reason.

"There are no geographical, cultural, or institutional links to Feltham for the people of this area.

"The shortest public transport route, by bus, can take at least one hour, and can be as long as two hours depending on traffic and time of day.

"The whole issue regarding linkage is dominated by Heathrow Airport, which has no legal through route for private cars.

"If in an emergency a constituent wishes to attend an MP's surgery in Feltham, it would involve a complex, difficult early and late evening journey by public transport, with all the worries of safety which that entails."