A PROPOSED shake-up of constituency boundaries could redraw Lewisham and Greenwich’s electoral map, leaving just five MPs instead of six.

Under the plans, the Erith and Thamesmead constituency currently held by Teresa Pearce will be no more.

Greenwich borough will get a Woolwich constituency, taking Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Thamesmead Moorings wards while a new Erith seat is created in Bexley.

Ms Pearce said: “My biggest concern is about changes to Thamesmead.

"The seat is already in two boroughs, half in Greenwich and half in Bexley, which causes problems. It’s stopped it becoming a community with a heart.

“Without a single MP it will be even harder to regenerate the areas and it will never have a single voice. It will be a bit of a disaster.”

She added: "What I want is for the people I represent to get the best representation, whether those seats are represented by me or not.

“On a personal note it is sad, I was the first chair of this constituency, I helped build it and grow it. It is sad for me to see the constituency I love broken up."

The proposals, part of a review by the Boundary Commission for England to reduce the number of seats nationally, will also see a new Deptford and Greenwich constituency crossing both boroughs. The Blackheath Westcombe and Greenwich West wards would join six from Lewisham.

Current Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock criticised the new formula, which sees constituencies organised so they have the same approximate number of voters.

She said: "These new constituencies take no account of community loyalties or history or geography."

Ms Ruddock added: "I think the greatest objections to this will come from Greenwich. I don't think Greenwich people are going to take well to chopping up their historic borough."

A redrawn Eltham constituency would feature seven wards from Greenwich and two from neighbouring Bexley - making a Conservative victory next time round more likely.

Eltham MP Clive Efford, who saw off a strong Conservative challenge at the last election, dismissed the changes, saying: “The Tories cannot win in Eltham so now they have tried to fix the boundaries in south east London.

“Well they have failed, and we will beat them again wherever they draw their boundary.”

Changes continue with a Lewisham and Catford seat containing eight wards while an all-new Dulwich and Sydenham constituency would have four wards from the borough and four from neighbouring Southwark.

The redrawn constituencies

Dulwich and Sydenham - Crofton Park, Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Sydenham, plus four Southwark wards.

Eltham - Coldharbour and New Eltham, Eltham North, Eltham South, Eltham West, Kidbrooke with Hornfair, Middle Park and Sutcliffe, Shooters Hill, plus two from Bexley.

Deptford and Greenwich - Blackheath Westcombe, Greenwich West, Blackheath, Brockley, Evelyn, Ladywell, New Cross, Telegraph Hill.

Woolwich - Abbey Wood, Charlton, Glyndon, Peninsula, Plumstead, Thamesmead Moorings, Woolwich Common, Woolwich Riverside.

Lewisham and Catford - Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, Grove Park, Lee Green, Lewisham Central, Rushey Green, Whitefoot.

Have your say

A consultation on the proposals runs until December 5.

To have your say visit consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk

Five sites in Lewisham are also exhibiting the changes. Visit lewisham.gov.uk/elections for details.

A public hearing on the proposals will be held on October 24 and 25 at Lewisham Town Hall.