Plans to shake up boundaries

The ward boundaries in Bath and North East Somerset Council are set to be changed. There could be six fewer councillors after the elections next May - 59 instead of the current 65 - and all but nine wards will be reshaped. Some, like Abbey, are disappearing completely, swallowed up by neighbouring areas. It is all part of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s latest review of the authority. The commission wants to end “electoral inequality”, so each councillor represents a similar number of constituents. By 2023 that figure will be around 2,367. It also wants to reflect community interests and identities, and promote effective and convenient local government. Some of the big changes include: The Abbey ward largely swallowed up into Kingsmead and Bathwick Saltford is substantially bigger, taking in residents formerly in Farmborough. Others are now in Clutton and Farmborough ward The north and south of the Chew Valley have been brought together in one large ward Bathavon West has been lost, as Bathavon South has swelled in size. See an interactive map of the proposals at https://consultation. lgbce.org.uk/node/9913