THOUSANDS of new voters could be casting their ballot to choose St Albans MP at the next election.

Plans revealed by the Boundary Commission to re-draw the country’s parliamentary constituencies show over 8,000 new voters could be added to St Albans from the neighbouring Hitchin and Harpenden.

According to the proposals, which were released today, St Albans is set to gain the wards of Redbourn and Sandridge.

Meanwhile the constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden, as well as losing two areas to St Albans, would get three new wards – Shefford, Langford and Henlow Village, and Silsoe and Shillington – from central Bedfordshire.

According to figures from the commission the proposals would mean around 8,600 new voters being added to St Albans’ electoral roles.

The move would also mean around 10,000 extra voters casting a ballot in Hitchin and Harpenden.

However the Boundary Commission’s proposals still have to go through a public consultation and are open to being challenged and amended.

If the plans are given the green light they could impact on who the areas return as their MP after the next election.

St Albans current Conservative MP, Anne Main, won her seat at last year’s election with a majority little over 2,000.

Mrs Main said: “You can never predict what the voters will do, but looking at the voting returns at those particular areas they have returned Conservatives and I would hope they would lend me their support.”

She added: "I am pleased that the boundary commission has suggested that a hundred percent of my original constituency remains within the same boundaries and indeed that it has suggested the boundaries be extended to include Sandridge, Redbourn and Kinsbourne areas which currently already have councillor representation on St Albans district council.

"I know the public are looking for a slim down of the House of Commons so it was inevitable that many seats would be expanded in numbers.

"Obviously these proposals are at the early stage but I am delighted that they have not proposed to split up the St Albans constituency that I am privileged to serve."