VOTERS have hit out at the 'bizarre' plans to change parliamentary constituencies, which will split a Bicester housing estate in two.

Thousands of voters are to be shunted from the current Banbury constituency – one of the largest in the UK – into a new 'East Oxfordshire' constituency which will be largely made up of the current Henley seat.

Launton, Ambrosden, Middleton Stoney and Chesterton would be among the areas moved to the new constituency.

Bicester town councillor Dan Sames, who represents several of the areas to be moved under the proposals, said: "It is bizarre.

"You will have developments such as Graven Hill and Kingsmere, and going forward Wretchwick Green, which will be part of Bicester but in a different constituency.

"It will just make it more confusing.

"We all work quite closely with our current MP so it will just be really confusing for people in Bicester to effectively be in the same town but come under two different MPs."

The proposal has been drawn up by the Boundary Commission for England, which has been tasked by the Government with reducing the number of House of Commons seats in the UK from 650 to 600.

The plans would see the number of voters in the Banbury constituency – currently represented by MP Victoria Prentis – reduced from 85,398 to 78,250.

As well as taking in areas around Bicester, Henley constituency would also be expanded in the south to include Long Wittenham – currently part of Wantage constituency.

Henley is currently represented by Conservative MP John Howell.

Kingsmere Residents Association co-chairwoman Viki Heil would be moved into East Oxfordshire despite her co-chairman Graham Brogden, who lives just streets away, remaining in Banbury.

She said: "It is absolutely ridiculous, we understand boundaries have to change but to split a housing estate in two is just odd.

"It makes no sense, we did ask why and were told that when it was drawn out Kingsmere was not included on the map and was just a field."

Work started on the development south west of Bicester in 2010.

Once it is finished it is expected to have up to 2,450 homes.

Ms Heil added: "Henley is miles away and we know our MP very well, she has always been supportive.

"It means we will often be dealing with two MPs over the same issue on the housing estate, it is just confusing."

The Boundary Commission was asked to reduce the number of constituencies in the south east of England from 84 to 83, and ensure the electorate in each is between 71,031 and 78,507.

Current MP Victoria Prentis said she will continue to monitor developments, adding: "The planned changes come as no surprise given that Banbury is currently one of the largest constituencies in the country.

"While the new proposals allow for a more even distribution of the electorate I will be sorry to lose some of my constituents should the proposals progress."

Voters now have until December 11 to comment on the proposals before they are considered further.

Parliament would have to vote to approve them before they would come into effect.

For the full interactive map of proposed changes see boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk