PLANS to change the electoral wards in the Cotswolds have been published this week with local feedback contributing to many of the recommendations.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England published its final recommendations for Cotswold District Council on Tuesday.

The publication follows a ten-week public consultation on its draft proposals and draws new boundaries for each council ward across the district.

The final recommendations propose that Cotswold district should be represented by 34 councillors in the future, ten fewer than the current arrangements.

It is proposed that 30 of the wards will be represented by one member, with two wards having two members.

Commission chairman Max Caller said the commission was extremely grateful to people across Cotswold district who took the time and effort to send in their views.

He added that the the Commission had considered every piece of evidence it received before finalising this week's recommendations.

“Across the district, we have sought to balance the views expressed to us by local people with the criteria we must apply when we are deciding on new electoral arrangements," Mr Caller said.

"As such, we believe these recommendations deliver electoral equality for voters as well as reflecting the identities of communities across Cotswold.”

In the light of feedback received during the public consultation, the commission proposes to alter parts of the recommendations it put forward in February.

In particular, the commission now proposes that the parish of Lechdale should not be divided between wards as put forward in the draft recommendations. Instead, it proposes a two-member Lechdale, Fairford South and Kempsford ward to reflect ties between communities in that part of the district.

The commission has also altered its recommendations so that Compton Abdale parish is included as part of the Chedworth and Churn Vale ward rather than Sandywell ward as previously proposed.

Similarly, it is proposed that Driffield and Harnhill parish should be part of The Ampneys and Hampton ward rather than Siddington and Cerny Rural ward as put forward in the earlier recommendations.

Elsewhere in the district, the Commission is proposing to alter some of the ward names included in its draft recommendations. As such, Beeches North and Beeches South wards become The Beeches and New Mills wards respectively.

In addition, Chesterton East and Chesterton West wards become Chesterton and Four Acres wards. Finally, Park and Whiteway ward is renamed as Abbey ward.

All changes to the proposed names of the wards were put forward by local groups.

The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament.

A draft order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the coming months. The draft Order provides for the new arrangements to come into force at the council elections in 2015.

Full details of the commission’s final recommendations (including maps) can be viewed at bit.ly/1rqQVdE