PART of Poole is in danger of losing its identity to Bournemouth, civic leaders fear.

"There is a real danger that in some people's eyes we will be seen as an addendum to Bournemouth. We are not. We are a clear and distinct borough with a long and proud history," said Cllr Brian Leverett, council leader.

The borough's ire has been raised by the Boundary Commiss-ion's decision to ignore its own commissioner's recommendation that the Bournemouth West ward should be renamed Bournemouth West and Poole East following last February's public inquiry.

From after the next parliamentary election the constituency will contain the Poole wards of Alderney and Branksome East.

Cllr Leverett has penned an angry letter to the commission calling for urgent consideration of the decision to stick with Bournemouth West.

He pointed out that Poole had been in existence far longer than Bournemouth and residents felt very strongly about the persistent "confusion" over identity.

"We have the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra playing in Poole, Bournemouth University is in Poole and Bournemouth Bay is actually Poole Bay," he said.

"For the Boundary Commission to imply that parts of Poole for electoral purposes are Bournemouth is an absolute nonsense."

Alderney ward member Cllr Tony Trent said: "There were several Alderney residents that turned up to the inquiry to ask that they remain in a Poole constituency."

First published: November 12