TIME is running out to have a say on the way we are governed from Westminster.

Residents are being reminded that there are just two weeks left to make their views known on electoral boundary changes.

Proposals to shake up the county’s parliamentary boundaries were put forward last month, with areas such as Windermere and Ambleside in Westmorland, shifting west to become part of a new area to be called Copeland and the Western Lakes constituency.

Grange will say goodbye to Westmorland and Lonsdale, where constituents overwhelmingly voted Liberal Democrat to become part of Barrow and Furness which is under Conservative control.

Tim Farron, the current MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale lives in Milnthorpe and would find his hometown moving from the current Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency into Morecambe and South Lakeland.

He was less than impressed with the shake-up. He said: “Since the Boundary Commission announced their proposed new boundaries for Cumbria, I’ve been inundated by people who can’t believe how ridiculous they are.

“In particular, people living in Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Haverthwaite and Coniston are simply astounded that they’ve been put in a new constituency with Whitehaven, when they have no ties with that town whatsoever. Many people struggle to tell me the last time they’ve even been there, if ever!

“Only someone sat behind a desk in London who’s never been to Cumbria could put Kirkby Lonsdale in a constituency with Alston and Crosthwaite in a constituency with Morecambe and Heysham.

“I would strongly encourage everyone to have their say on these plans by going on the Boundary Commission’s website.”

Kendal would also see a change and become part of Westmorland and Eden’s parliamentary constituency which puts the ‘auld grey town in with Penrith'.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, could stand to lose parts of High Furness. He said: “Our proposed Barrow and Furness constituency will be largely the same as the existing constituency, but now includes the Cartmel and Grange wards, and no longer includes the Broughton & Coniston ward. This arrangement allows for a more practicable configuration of constituencies across Cumbria, without fundamentally altering the nature of the existing Barrow and Furness constituency.”

Those wishing to voice their opinions can do so online at https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/.