A COUNCILLOR has lost his fight for people to have their say on which MP has responsibility for their area.

Darlington Borough Council Conservative group leader Councillor Tony Richmond wanted public consultation on possible changes to the Sedgefield and Darlington constituency boundaries.

Coun Richmond said he hoped the exercise would determine residents' preferences for the parliamentary boundary of Darlington.

The Boundary Commission for England is reviewing parliamentary boundaries in County Durham for the first time in ten years. It has recommended that the boundaries remain unchanged.

At a meeting of Darlington Borough Council, Coun Richmond argued that constituents' views should be put forward at any local inquiry.

He said: "The council should carry out a consultation exercise with the residents of Darlington and that, should the Boundary Commission for England call a local inquiry to consider the proposed changes and any objections to them, the borough solicitor be authorised to arrange representation on behalf of the wishes of the residents of the borough of Darlington.

"The three main political parties have their own views on what the parliamentary boundary should be."

Labour council leader Councillor John Williams said that the Boundary Commission was in the process of carrying out a public consultation.

He said it would cost £30,000 of taxpayers' money for the council to hold a separate public inquiry.

He said: "The consultation is already being taken up by the Boundary Commission and it is ongoing. Any member of the public in Darlington who has a legitimate interest in this can make their views known to the commission.

"The results of the consultation could very well be mixed, and it is for the commission to make a decision in time.

"It would cost £30,000 to mirror the consultation that has already been carried out."