A PROPOSAL which will effectively split Perth in half “Cold War-style” at the next Holyrood election was described as “ludicrous” yesterday.

Boundary Commission proposals placed in public buildings show how the body envisages the constituency layout when the country next goes to the polls and they have already drawn stinging responses in Perthshire.

The plans will see two MSPs serve an area with the same boundary as Perth and Kinross Council, split into North Perthshire and South Perthshire and Kinross.

It would mean Kinross-shire is drawn into the new southern constituency, while the Carse of Gowrie, including the portion at present in Angus constituency, would fall within North Perthshire.

But Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller pointed out yesterday by far the most contentious issue for voters will be the division through the heart of Perth.

The city centre council ward, encompassing Kinnoull, Bridgend, Friarton and the South Inch, Muirton and North Muirton and the city centre itself would be under one MSP while another will deal with the rest of the city.

Mr Miller, leader of the SNP group in the coalition administration, said, “The proposal to split the city of Perth is the most ludicrous suggestion ever. It would be absolute nonsense.

“Boundaries should be based on communities and splitting up Perth is crazy.”

He also echoed the thoughts of John Swinney MSP, whose safe North Tayside seat could be broken up as the vast Angus part of it is subsumed elsewhere, by slamming the fact that Labour-controlled Westminster will have the final say.

“The people deciding this are in Westminster which is absolute nonsense. The Scottish Parliament should be deciding it,” he said.

Perth MSP, Roseanna Cunningham has also said the changes would “tear the city apart.”

Perth and North Perthshire MP, the SNP’s Pete Wishart said, “Many of these proposals have a great many pros and cons worthy of full debate. One aspect of this process which I have yet to hear any pros for is the splitting up of our Fair City of Perth.

“I feel it is essential to have Perth represented by one MSP who can serve the city as one key cohesive unit. It is important to work in partnership with a single MSP for Perth in order to represent the city in the best possible manner and I feel that this relationship can only be diminished by splitting the Perth seat.”

If approved, it will mean the North Perthshire MSP dealing with a diversity of issues from hill farming in highland Perthshire to urban deprivation in areas of Perth.

Similarly, the South Perth and Kinross MSP would cover the very heart of Perth as well as vast swathes of farmland to the south and west of the city.

The boundary between the two proposed constituencies runs along Glen Almond, through the centre of Perth and then along the Tay.

Local people were mixed in their opinions. While several said they didn’t much care what the boundaries are, others were vociferous.

Pensioner, Maury Bell said, “You would think after the chaos at the last election, they would leave things be for the time being.”