LARGE swathes of Windermere will stay in the town after a climbdown over proposed changes to South Lakeland District Council boundaries.

The Local Government Boundary Commission had put forward plans to move part of Windermere, including the train station, post office and much of the town centre, into the Ambleside and Grasmere ward.

600 people signed a petition opposing a proposal, set up by local councillor Ben Berry, who labelled the plan 'ridiculous'.

Windermere Town Council also strongly opposed the plan. Town clerk Julie Wright said in a letter to residents: "We believe it makes no common sense and is another example of administrators who have no idea about the shape of our community interfering and making changes for no apparent reason."

And now, the final recommendations have been revealed - meaning the town will be wholly contained within the Windermere ward.

The final recommendations propose that South Lakeland should be represented by 51 district councillors and that those councillors should represent 15 three-member wards and three two-member wards across the district.

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Commission, said: "We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout South Lakeland."

Cllr Berry said that the Boundary Commission had done a 'reasonable job' at keeping communities together with 'boundaries that make sense'.

He also said that he was appreciative that it had listened to residents concerns in areas such as Windermere.

The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament. A draft Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in the coming months.