THE changing face of Hagley is set to gather force this week following an overwhelming vote to alter ancient parish boundaries with neighbouring Clent.

More than 80 per cent of people eligible to vote chose to change the existing boundary, which will effectively bring a further 500 households under Hagley Parish Council.

The vote was triggered following a petition organised by Hagley Residents Action Group and the results will now go before Bromsgrove District Council's electoral matters committee on Thursday night.

Delighted Hagley Parish Council chairman Steve Colella said: "We knew the depth of feeling amongst residents so this result came as no surprise. Both the facts and the view of the people have been quite clear.

"Previously people in Hagley for instance picked up the bill over the running of the library, which was clearly unfair, as it is used by people from Clent.

"It's an historic moment for Hagley as the people have chosen to change an ancient boundary which has been in place from the earliest days of village formation.

"The boundary is clearly outdated and the change has been supported by both a factual feasibility study and 80 per cent of the votes cast. In anyone's book this is an overwhelming landslide victory.

"All it needs now is for Bromsgrove District Council to formally approve the change and set in motion the formal change process."

As a result of the vote - which saw 992 people out of 1,315 vote in favour of change - almost 500 households in West Hagley which are currently represented by Clent Parish Council will now be transferred under the governance of Hagley Parish Council.