PLANS to create a new parish in East Dorset are set to be rejected.

Residents of the Furzehill area petitioned the council asking for asking that the area be moved from Colehill parish to the parish of Holt saying that the area had more similarities to the hamlets of Holt.

However, East Dorset District Council’s cabinet is set to refuse the request with officers saying that the move would have a “detrimental impact”.

“Extending the boundary of Holt parish to incorporate the area would require warding arrangements and result in the parish of Holt being split between two parliamentary constituencies, two county divisions and two district wards,” a report to the council says.

“This would necessitate complex electoral arrangements with potentially multiple ballot papers and boxes at single polling stations and increase the risk of cross-contamination.

“The effect of extending the parish would simply transfer that part of Furzehill from one parish council area to another and increase local representation by three councillors with no tangible evidence that it would result in more efficient, effective or convenient delivery of services.”

The report recommends to the cabinet that no changes are made to the existing boundaries.