A NEW committee of councillors is to be set up to try to head off plans to "move" Atherton into a new a Parliamentary constituency.

An all-party group has been set up to develop alternative proposals following opposition to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission's plans to extend the constituency of Bolton West to incorporate Atherton, which is part of Wigan.

Less controversial moves contained in the plan, which would be the first change to the Parliamentary boundaries in eight years, would see the borders of all three Bolton constituencies shifted to fit with recent changes to the council wards.

At an extraordinary meeting of Bolton Council, councillors voted to form a response group which would look to develop plans to form three parliamentary constituencies entirely from within the boundaries of the Bolton Metropolitan Borough.

Speaking at the meeting, Conservative Cllr John Walsh described the proposals as "regrettable"

He told the meeting that to move Atherton would "rip the heart out" of the township.

The plans, which, if approved by Parliament, would come into force at the next but one General Election, are aimed at reducing the increasing gulf between the most and least populated constituencies in the North-west.

Under Government rules, Bolton's voting population of 202,743 only makes it entitled to only 2.9 parliamentary seats.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Roger Hayes said that there are occasions when the interests of Bolton conflict with neighbouring authorities, and at these times it will be useful to have "three members who are battling for Bolton," as opposed to one of the three straddling two boroughs.

But he also added that many people in Atherton were keen on the move.

If the proposals are approved, Bolton North-east will cover everyone living in the wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Crompton, Halliwell and Tonge with the Haulgh.

Bolton South-east will cover the wards of Farnworth, Great Lever, Harper Green, Hulton, Kearsley, Rumworth and Little Lever and Darcy Lever while Bolton West will represent people living in Heaton and Lostock, Horwich and Blackrod, Horwich North-east, Smithills, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor and Atherton.