FOREST MP Mark Harper is suggesting nicking more voters from Gloucester by telling them they are not being transferred to the Forest of Dean but instead to West Gloucestershire.

In a letter to the Boundary Commission he says the West Gloucestershire tag would be a return to the historical name of the seat from 1950 to 1997.

Mr Harper writes: "Renaming the Forest of Dean CC to 'West Gloucestershire CC' would be a more accurate description of the seat which could be embraced by all of its electors, would return to the historical name of the seat from 1950 to 1997, and importantly would ensure that the name 'Forest of Dean' of which Foresters are rightly proud, is reserved for use by those associated with the historic Forest of Dean itself, and is not used as a general catch-all for the wider Parliamentary constituency."

A row has been rumbling on as a result of a suggestion by the Boundary Commissioners to slice off the Westgate Ward of Gloucester City and transfer it to the Forest.

The aim is to make constituencies more equal in numbers of voters. The present Forest constituency needs 4,107 more electors to bring it in line with Gloucester City where there are insufficient voters for justify two constituencies but too many for one.

Mr Harper said he recognised and respected to concern of those Gloucester residents given the historic significance of some areas of the Westgate Ward.

However, he contends the Ward could be split, ensuring the historic areas of the city remained in Gloucester.

He adds: "This would help allay the concerns expressed, while representing a small change to your original proposals and prevent the need to redraw any other constituency boundaries.

"In any event, the new constituency of the Forest of Dean CC is likely to contain electors from up to three different districts (Forest of Dean, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough). Given that a significant number of people in the Forest of Dean District Council area (in particular to the north, and south-west of the district) also do not naturally consider themselves to be in the Forest of Dean, I suggest that a name change would be appropriate."