THE independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people in East Hampshire to comment on its draft proposals for new council ward boundaries.

A 10-week public consultation on the recommendations began last Monday and will end on December 11. The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council wards, ward boundaries and ward names in East Hampshire.

Having carried out its own investigative exercise, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has recommended retaining the current 44 councillors in 38 wards which, based on recent electorate forecasts, would mean an average of 2,319 electors per councillor by 2023.

However, the commission’s draft recommendations propose that East Hampshire should see a reduction from 44 to 43 councillors and the number of councillors representing Petersfield reduced from six to five.

The recommendations also outline how those councillors would represent three three-councillor wards, 11 two-councillor wards and 12 one-councillor wards, along with significant restructuring of ward boundaries.

In Alton, the proposals show a reduction in the number of wards from seven to four but with the same number of councillors.

There would also be a re-writing of boundaries in the rural wards along with a redistribution of councillor representation. The number of councillors would remain constant.

The proposal is to do away with Alton Whitedown and Alton Amery, which would become part of an enlarged Alton Westbrooke ward, represented by three councillors at district level, and to axe Alton Wootey, which would then be covered by two councillors representing Alton Eastbrooke. Alton Ashdell would remain the same, with one councillor, and a new Alton Holybourne ward would have a single councillor.

The boundaries would be be redrawn for the rural wards, with the axing of Downland (formerly Beech, Bentworth, Chawton, Farringdon and Wield) to be replaced by Bentworth and Froyle (taking in Wield), and represented by one councillor, while Four Marks and Medstead would be extended to take in Chawton to become a three-councillor ward.

Selborne ward would go and Binsted and Bentley would scoop up Farringdon, Worldham, Kingsley and Selborne to become a two-councillor ward, while Ropley and Tisted would expand to take in Empshott and Hawkley but would remain as is with a single councillor.

The ward boundaries in the rest of the district have been similarly redrawn with Whitehill Bordon undergoing similar restructuring, but with the same number of councillors, and Petersfield seeing a reduction in wards resulting in the loss of one councillor.

According to the Commission, East Hampshire has high levels of electoral inequality: some councillors represent many more, or many fewer, voters than others, which means the value of votes varies depending on where residents live. The aim of the review is to recommend ward boundaries that enalbe councillors to represent approximately the same number of voters.

And to ensure that the pattern of wards reflects the interests and identities of communities as well as promoting effective local government.

Full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and lgbce.org.uk.

Hard copies of the Commission’s report and maps will also be available to view at council buildings.

Professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of wards across East Hampshire and we are keen to hear what people think of the recommendations.

“Over the next 10 weeks, we are asking people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or, if not, how they can be improved.

“We will consider all the submissions we receive, whoever they are from, and whether the evidence applies to the whole district or just part of it.”

Anyone who wants to make a submission to the Commission, should do so by December 11 by writing to: The Review Officer (East Hampshire), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London, SW1P 4QP or emailing: [email protected].

Residents can also tweet to @LGBCE or have their say directly via the Commission’s consultation portal at consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/9704.