NEW electoral ward boundary proposals for Ellesmere Port and Neston have been agreed despite opposition.
Councillors responded to the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee for England (BcfE) during a special meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council last week.
But Labour and Liberal Democrat groups are opposing the Torycontrolled authority’s proposal because both want more single-member wards.
The BcfE will now consider the council's response and make its final recommendations to Parliament.
If the proposal is rubber stamped it would see the borough’s electoral wards increased by ten to 34, and councillors by three to 75.
Although the BcfE advised seven wards with three councillors, the authority suggests that number be increased to 12.
In eight cases, the council would combine small wards proposed by the committee, which they argue would avoid splitting communities such as those in Neston.
Council leader Mike Jones said: “We have stuck to our task of helping the Boundary Committee to get this right.
“In some places we have agreed with the committee whilst in others we are arguing the case which parish councils have put to us on behalf of their residents.
“We have to argue our original proposal was right if we are going to make sure voters get arrangements that work best for them.”
Under the original proposals, the council planned to link Whitby with Elton.
But the BcfE rejected the idea as they were not persuaded the area of Elton shared a sense of community identity and interest with Whitby.
It’s now proposed Elton will be linked with Saughall.
