FINAL comments on proposed councillor division boundaries are needed ahead of the consultation closure on November 5.
The council will retain its current 98 councillors and a consultation held by the Local Government Boundary Commission will reveal the new areas they represent at the end of its consultation in Spring 2019.
Each area must have a population of between 3862 and 4720 electors. Some of the biggest changes will be seen around Melksham and Devizes, after lines are re drawn with new population numbers in mind.
Councils from towns including Marlborough and Trowbridge recently submitted comments on the proposals and the public have until November 5 to write to the Local Government Boundary Commission on plans.
Villages surrounding Melksham and Trowbridge expressed concerns about new boundaries mixing both urban and rural areas.
Cabinet member for housing, Richard Clewer, has been given the task of re-dividing up the county, and at times has described it as an almost impossible task.
He said: “We don’t have all the answers but it is important that communities get in touch with the consultation to make their own voice heard and can even submit their own proposal to how it could be done.
"People should be aware than even if our number stays the same there will still be some significant changes in their local electoral divisions and to recognise the planned growth in population both now and in to the future.
"Therefore I encourage people to get involved in the consultation on where boundaries need changing in order to achieve fair representation on the council.”
Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said: “We will consider every submission we receive from local people before we draw up draft recommendations. We will then open another phase of consultation on those proposals.
“Don’t miss this chance to have your say on how you will represented in the future.” Visit the consultation at: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/
Write to: The Review Officer (Wiltshire), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP.
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