COMMUNITY leaders fear Handforth could be stripped of its identity under new Boundary Commission proposals.

The village which has roots dating back to Saxon times, is due to merge for election purposes with nearby Dean Row to cement changes following the recent local government shake up.

Handforth joined Dean Row as a single local government division last year to ease the way for elections to the new Cheshire East Council.

At the time it was presented as a one-off merger to allow fair representation in the council election but now there are fears it will be rubber stamped when the Boundary Commission conducts a review in 2011.

Staunch Handforth campaigner and Independent Councillor Barry Burkhill is calling on residents to stand up and fight for their village identity.

He said: "We have a lot to be proud of in Handforth and we have no wish to be spliced in with Dean Row ward and lose our community identity. The historic identity of Handforth is in danger of being lost in the boundary changes resulting from the formation of the Cheshire East Unitary Council. Handforth has always been recognized as an electoral ward of Macclesfield Borough Council, large enough to elect three councillors to the borough. As a temporary measure last year’s elections for the new Cheshire East were held on the County Council division of Handforth ward and Dean Row ward put together."

Handforth’s identity goes back to Saxon times. The hamlet is mentioned in a royal charter dated around 1233.  During the Crusades Handforth acquired its own Coat of Arms displaying the Honford Star which the Handforth Ratepayer Independent councillors use as their emblem.  The historic Handforth Hall was built in 1562 on the site of an earlier medieval dwelling.

Coun Burkhill, a former borough mayor, urged the community to rally before the Boundary Commission conducts its review.

He said: "We have to present a case to them to retain Handforth as a separate ward and not part of the Wilmslow wards otherwise we will find ourselves permanently lumped in with Dean Row ward as one huge electoral division as this would suit the ruling local Conservative group.  So, it is up to us to save Handforth. "

The commission wants evidence of Handforth’s historical and present day identity supported by a list of community groups which prove easily identifiable boundaries.

Coun Burkhill said: "Together we can make a difference and have Handforth ward councillors representing the interests of Handforth residents on Cheshire East Unitary Council as we have done at Macclesfield for 30 years.

Residents are urged to write to the review officer, Mr. J Ansell at The Boundary Committee, Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London, SW1P 2HW or email: jansell@electoralcommission.org.uk .