PLANS to change up the Cotswolds constituency boundary have been amended, despite reports last month that the proposals were set to be scrapped by Theresa May.

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has however said it is "extremely unlikely" the recommendations will go through.

The redrawn map, published by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) last week, comes after two consultation stages and marks the opening of the third and final consultation.

Under the proposals, the Cotswolds could lose Kingswood and Wotton-under-Edge to a new constituency called Dursley, Thornbury and Yate, and it could lose Minchinhampton to the new Stroud constituency.

But it could gain Isbourne and Winchcombe from the existing Tewkesbury constituency.

The proposals mean that the Cotswolds could lose 3,271 voters from its electorate of 76,210 people.

Following a decision by Parliament to reduce the number of constituencies in the UK to 600 from 650, and to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is equal, the BCE was asked to make recommendations about where the boundaries of English constituencies should be.

But Cotswold MP Mr Clifton-Brown said that there is now not a majority in Parliament to reduce the number of seats from 650 to 600.

He said: "Instead, the Boundary Commission will probably be instructed by Parliament to carry out a new review on equalising the population of 650 seats, an eminently sensible idea.

"Again, this may not happen until after the next General Election."

A report by The Times last month stated that plans for new constituency boundaries across the UK are likely to be abandoned by Theresa May amid fears of a rebellion by Tory MPs when the prime minister needs her party’s support to push through Brexit legislation.

The Cotswolds, a Conservative stronghold, has been represented in the House of Commons by Mr Clifton-Brown for 25 years since 1992.

In the 2017 General Election, Mr Clifton-Brown won with 36,201 votes, ahead of Labour candidate Mark Huband with 10,702 votes.

It is likely that the constituency will remain a Conservative stronghold under the recommendations.

Kingswood is currently represented by a Conservative councillor on Stroud District Council; Wotton-under-Edge is represented by two Liberal Democrats and one Green Party councillor; and Minchinhampton is represented by two Conservative councillors.

The Cotswolds could lose these wards under the BCE's proposals.

Meanwhile, it will be gaining Isbourne, which is represented by a Conservative councillor on Tewkesbury Borough Council, and Winchcombe, represented by three Conservative councillors.

Members of the public have until December 11 to have their say on the new plans. To comment, go to: www.bce2018.org.uk

After this third consultation, the Boundary Commission will decide on their final recommendations before submitting them to Parliament in September 2018.

If agreed by Parliament, the new constituencies will be in use at the next scheduled General Election in 2022.