LOCAL concerns were taken to the top with a meeting at the House of Commons about changes to Chatteris parish council boundaries.

MP Steve Barclay has secured a commitment about proposed new names changes for Chatteris parish wards.

He met with representatives from the local boundary commission to discuss concerns that changes to electoral ward boundaries will seriously affect the next elections for Chatteris and Fenland Councils including voters having to cast their ballot in different locations.

Steve Max Caller and Marcus Bowell, from the Local Government Boundary Commission, and Chatteris Town Council Clerk Joanna Melton discussed how proposed changes to wards would impact on voters.

The new rules will see voters in Chatteris elect seven parish councillors, adding three new wards to the Council’s total.

Mrs Melton is concerned that the proposed division into wards will lead to unequal workloads.

MP Steve Barclay said: “It is clear that the proposed new rules for local elections in Chatteris are a concern for members of the council who legitimately want to ensure more equal representation across the town.”

He said they had been assured that they would take their concerns into consideration when drawing up plans following the 2015 district council elections.

“The main issue we wanted to highlight was the need for electoral equality for voters and ease of access for polling stations,” he said.