East Ayrshire Council’s suggestion that Kilmaurs remains connected to Kilmarnock after ‘preposterous’ proposals for new Scottish Parliament constituencies has been accepted.

Last year Boundaries Scotland revealed its plans to remap the Scottish Parliament constituencies to provide a more balanced electorate.

Unlike last year’s review of Westminster constituencies, there will be no reduction in the number of seats up for grabs.

The initial proposals were met with criticism from across the political spectrum when they were presented to East Ayrshire Council last year.

The changes would have seen Stewarton and Kilmaurs lumped in with North Ayrshire towns Irvine and Kilwinning as part of a reshaped Cunninghame South seat.

The proposals were slammed by all groups, with Conservative group leader John McFadzean, whose Annick ward would be directly affected, described them as "ill conceived and ill thought out" paying no attention to local ties.

SNP councillor David Richardson called it "pie in the sky stuff" while Labour councillor John McGhee said it was preposterous.

In its response to Boundaries Scotland’s proposal objected ‘in essence’ to the inclusion of parts of the Annick ward in Cunninghame South, arguing that it would break local ties.

The council also suggested retaining Kilmaurs within the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley seat.

East Ayrshire Council’s response to the consultation appeared to have had the desired effect, with Boundaries Scotland publishing its proposal to retain Kilmaurs in the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley seat.

On Thursday, councillors will decide whether to make any further objections or accept the amended proposal.

Officers have recommended that no additional objections are made.

The new proposals would bring the electorates in both seats significantly closer to the target quota of 59,902 voters, with Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley having 57,515 residents eligible to vote and Cunninghame South having 59,525 voters.

This compares with the original proposal, which would have seen Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley’s electorate drop down to 54,297 and increase Cunninghame South to 62,113.

The council will consider its response on Thursday.