Tyrone and Fermanagh's electoral boundaries in for big changes

Proposed changes brought forward by Northern Ireland's Boundary Commission would see new North Tyrone constituency.

The electoral landscape of Northern Ireland could be about to change radically.

That's if proposals made by Northern Ireland's Boundary Commission are implemented.

Under new plans, the constituency of West Tyrone would completely disappear with a brand-new constituency called North Tyrone to be created in its place.

This new area would comprise the towns of Strabane, Omagh and Cookstown - and include ten wards previously in Mid Ulster - and would span as far as Lough Neagh.

- A map of the proposed boundary changes. / Credit : Interactive Bounday Map, www.boundarycommission.org.uk.

Meanwhile the make-up of the UK's most westerly constituency - Fermanagh and South Tyrone - is also due to change significantly.

While losing some wards to its east such as Mullaghmore, Killymeal, Killyman, Ballysaggart, Moygashel, Caledon and Moy wards such as Fintona, Castlederg and Newtownstewart would be gained to its North.

A change which may prove telling in a marginal seat currently occupied by former Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott.

The Commission's announcement  will now be followed by a twelve-week consultation process, with one of four public hearings on the issue due to heard in Omagh on the eleventh of October.