DUDLEY will be "split down the middle" if an "unbelievable" boundary shake-up goes ahead, an MP has warned.

Final plans submitted to the Government by The Boundary Commission will see St Thomas's ward - which includes part of the town centre, Kates Hill, Buffery Park, Oakham and Blowers Green - become part of the Warley constituency.

The majority of the town centre will be in a new Dudley constituency - which would replace the current Dudley North and South constituencies and also include Gornal, Wrens Nest, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford and Wordsley, while Woodside and Netherton look set to fall under the Rowley Regis remit.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin said he thinks The Boundary Commission has made "a terrible decision" in its attempt to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and ensure the number of electors in each constituency is equal.

He continued: "It's unbelievable. How can these people split a town like Dudley – one of the biggest towns in the country - right down the middle?

"People living in the wards around the town centre will be represented by three different MPs.

"Part of our town is being lumped into a seat stretching to the other side of Smethwick.

"Imagine having to travel all the way over there to see your 'local' MP.

"Local people, charities, businesses, churches, the mosques and temples were unanimously against this plan and thousands of people signed a petition, yet a bunch of London bureaucrats have nodded it through.

"I’ll be voting against these plans when they come to Parliament.”

In the report that will be presented to Parliament, the commission said that it would have "preferred to avoid the unfortunate division of the centre of the town of Dudley between constituencies", but added that alternative options "did not provide a more acceptable solution".

Sam Hartley, secretary to The Boundary Commission, said: "The recommendations mark the end of a thorough and consultative process to build the new map of constituencies.

"We’ve travelled the country, taken account of over 35,000 public comments and heard many impassioned views about how best to reflect local communities in our recommendations, while ensuring that constituencies are all much more equally represented.

"We’re confident that the map we propose is the best match of the legal rules Parliament have set us. It’s now up to Parliament to decide whether these boundaries will be used at the next general election."

MPs will vote on the changes later this year.

One politician that looks set to back the proposals is Dudley South MP Mike Wood, who told the News: "I think it's blindingly obvious that democracy is only fair if every MP represents the same amount of people - that's why the changes are needed."

The Tory MP added: "It's an independent review - completely separate from any political party - which has now taken the decisions and I think it is our responsibility as MPs to implement these rather than wondering whether it will be good or bad for our own majorities or political futures."