VOTERS in Atherton will be selecting a new MP under proposals to change the parliamentary constituency boundaries for the very first time in eight years.

Under new plans unveiled on Thursday, all three Bolton constituencies would see their borders changed, with Bolton West being extended to include the Atherton ward of Wigan Council.

The move has divided political parties in Bolton amid claims that the borough has been "short-changed"

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.

It would be the first change to the parliamentary boundaries since 1997 when Halliwell was moved from the Bolton West constituency to Bolton North East.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Roger Hayes described it as bad news for Wigan and Bolton.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: "We feel that we should be entitled to three MPs of our own without taking in parts of other boroughs."

But Atherton councillor Cllr Robert Splaine said people in his ward would be delighted. He said: "People in Atherton identify more with Bolton than they do with Wigan and I would be very pleased if this went ahead."

If the proposals are approved, Bolton North East - currently represented in Parliament by David Crausby - will cover everyone living in the wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Crompton, Halliwell and Tonge with The Haulgh.

Dr Brian Iddon's Bolton South-east seat will cover the wards of Farnworth, Great Lever, Harper Green, Hulton, Kearsley, Little Lever and Darcy Lever and Rumworth, while Ruth Kelly's Bolton West will represent people living in Heaton and Lostock, Horwich and Blackrod, Horwich North-east, Smithillls, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, Westhoughton South and Atherton,

Gerald Tessier, review area manager at the Parliamentary Boundary Commission, said: "Our aim is to make all wards as close to the average constituency population of 69,000 as possible and to bring the parliamentary boundaries in line with the changes to the council ward boundaries which were introduced earlier this year."

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

But Bolton Conservative councillor John Walsh said he had hoped Bolton's allocation of constituencies would be rounded up as has happened in other areas. He called for a special council meeting to discuss the proposals.

Cllr Walsh said: "This would split Atherton down the middle and see it in a different constituency to the rest of Wigan Council."

But Labour leader Cllr Cliff Morris added: "It would seem good news as we would gain another township but we would like to look at these proposals in closer detail."