WEST Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison has criticised plans by the government to erase parish boundaries from Ordnance Survey maps.

Local government minister Tony McNulty suggested the move as a way to remove clutter from maps in his answer to a parliamentary question earlier this month.

Dr Murrison said it was yet another snub for parish councils.

"The Government has introduced a draconian code of conduct forcing honest parish councillors to resign in their droves," he said.

"And the Countryside Agency has insultingly labelled a third of all parishes as 'barely active' or 'sleeping'. Now, literally, parishes will be wiped off the map."