BRADDON MHR Sid Sidebottom will strengthen his hold on the marginal seat if the proposed Australian Electoral Commission division re- distribution goes ahead.

With the inclusion of the West Coast and Kentish municipalities and the loss of Latrobe to Lyons, Labor's margin in Braddon could double from 1.4percent to 2.7percent.

Latrobe Mayor Mike Gaffney said the West Coast's bid to move from the relatively safe seat of Lyons to a marginal electorate was warranted.

However, it should not come at the expense of other municipalities.

"My main concern for the municipality is that if the changes go through we will not be part of that marginal seat," he said.

"That means services such as the hospital and the airport will now be under threat.

"This should not come at the expense of a member council that has been there for a number of years and has cemented itself within the electorate."

If the proposed changes are approved, the effects could be serious for the Mersey hospital, which was used as a political pawn during the last election.

The proposed move for the Latrobe municipality to Lyons has come as a shock to many.

Kentish Mayor Don Thwaites said the proposed changes would bring an end to his long-held ambition for Kentish and Latrobe to be in the same electorate.

"I would like to see both Kentish and Latrobe in the same electorate and to think that we might simply swap is just ridiculous," he said.

"For the West Coast to come into Braddon seems a smart way to arrange the system. I did not think it would come at the sacrifice of another municipality."

Mr Sidebottom was contacted yesterday, but was unavailable for comment.