WORKINGTON Town Council is set to try and keep Northside and the Port of Workington in the new Workington and Whitehaven parliamentary constituency.

The Boundary Commission's new proposals will drastically change the landscape of the former Workington constituency, and when released were branded by some politicians as 'just unbelievable'.

As things stand, the Northside area of Workington will be moved into the newly-formed Penrith and Solway constituency in 2023 when the proposals will come into force.

The proposals would also see the Port of Workington split into two constituencies.

In a full council meeting last Wednesday, November 30, councillors moved to make a submission to the Boundary Commission which would see Workington 'reclaim' Northside.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Micheal Heaslip proposed a motion which was passed by the council.

"What will happen if this goes ahead is that we will have 24 councillors in one constituency, and one councillor in isolation; they call it being an orphan in a constituency.

"What I am suggesting is that this town council makes a submission to the Boundary Commision, which effectively says that the whole town should be moved into the Workington and Whitehaven constituency."

This would see the 769 electors in the Northside ward moved into the new Workington and Whitehaven ward.

Cllr Heaslip said: "The commison said will take into account any local ties that will be broken with the new constituencies, and dividing our town I would think is a significant tie that would be broken.

"There is no way to settle a boundary between Northside and the rest of Workington, there is just a bridge but it has always been seen as part of Workington, the Harbour at the North of the river is on both sides of the Derwent and it would be hard to have the Harbour Commision split between two constituencies.

"It would mean splitting the Seaton and Northside Ward (at Cumberland Council level) but this is an exceptional case and before the 2019 elections Northside was always part of St Michael's ward.

"I propose we make this submission and reclaim Northside for the Workington."

READ MORE: 'Just unbelievable' or 'interesting proposals'? Boundary commission plans revealed