A public inquiry into plans to move nearly 9,000 East Lothian voters into a new ward for future Scottish Parliament elections is expected to be held after councillors described the move as 'nonsensical'.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland wants to move people living in Musselburgh, Prestonpans and parts of east Edinburgh into a new Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency to try and reduce the number of voters in the current East Lothian seat.
However the move has been described as 'madness' as councillors covering one of the wards affected said they could end up having to deal with 16 MSPs on a daily basis.
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Councillor Neil Gilbert, ward members for Preston, Seton Gosford, told a meeting of East Lothian Council the new seat was not sensible.
He said: "It makes no sense to me.
"This would be the only constituency in Scotland covering three local authorities and in doing so myself and fellow ward councillors would have the potential to have to deal with 16 MSPs.
"I think that is enough to say it is not really sensible."
The meeting was told the move was designed to reduce the number of eligible voters in East Lothian from over 67,000 people, closer to the average number of 59, 902 – which is the quota for mainland constituencies.
It would see the current Midlothian North and Musselburgh seat, which includes part of East Lothian's biggest town in it, expanded down the coast to Prestonpans and upwards to include Portobello.
Councillors were told that local authorities have the right to call for an inquiry as part of the consultation process.
They voted unanimously to call for the inquiry and lodge their objections with the Boundary Commission.
Fellow Preston, Seton, Gosford, ward member Councillor Brooke Ritchie said: "This is a proposed boundary change that makes very little sense.
"It could be really devastating for our communities, towns and the wider council area. It seems to be an ill thought out proposal and I would welcome a local inquiry."
And Councillor Lachlan Bruce, also ward member, said: "It seems ill thought out and ill-considered. They have not even changed the name of the new constituency from Midlothian North and Musselburgh, not reflecting you are adding in Portobello and Prestonpans.
"I think East Lothian would make up the biggest of the three chunks involved."
Councillor Bruce pointed out the Boundary Commission had taken no account of the growing housing plans in Wallyford which would have residents in two different constituencies under the plans.
He said: "That just strikes me as madness. There must be a better way of achieving this."
Councillors agreed to lodge their objections as part of an ongoing four week public consultation and request a local inquiry is held into the decision to give the council the chance to state its case for a different approach.
