Sir, – In the D&S of Friday, October 21, I noted a passing reference to a consultation on the proposed changes to Parliamentary constituency boundaries.

I went online to check this, and was horrified to realise that under the proposals the whole of Upper Wensleydale – Leyburn to Hawes – is to be shifted from Richmond to the constituency of Skipton and Ripon.

Leaving party politics aside, I think this move would be very bad for the area.

We do not look south to Skipton, Ripon and the Leeds commuter belt.

Our focus for hospitals, police, local government, etc, is east and north-east, to Richmond, Northallerton and Middlesbrough.

Would an MP with the bulk of his or her voters in the south bother much with supporting the wishes of a tiny population of voters who live in such a geographically remote area, and who have such well-eastablished links with the adjacent constituency?

I think the Boundary Commissioners have simply looked at a flat map and the population figures, without taking into consideration the links and viewpoint of the population of Upper Wensleydale?

After all, in recent winters it has been very difficult at times to get over the fell roads to Skipton.

Why would an MP make the effort to reverse that journey and come to us?

We are a relatively small population of voters; would it hurt to preserve the status quo in this case, and leave us in Richmond?

Readers can find out more about the proposals at www.independent.gov.uk/boundaries and have the opportunity to make their wishes known.

VIVIENNE METCALF Thoralby, Leyburn