THE Forest of Dean District Council has agreed a new pattern of electoral wards throughout the district.

The council has proposed a redistribution of seats to achieve a better representation of electors by local councillors.

Nationwide, the Local Government Commission is aiming to seek an electoral pattern whereby councillors represent a roughly similar number of electors, and wards are represented by no more than three councillors.

Present distribution within the Forest of Dean has remained little changed since the district council came into being in 1974 – apart from the addition of two seats at the last local elections – despite populations changing during the past 25 years.

The proposals would result in the Forest district having, if the Commission accepts the plan, 26 wards with 48 councillors (instead of the present 51) each representing an average of 1,306 electors.

The blueprint has been proposed following consultations with parish councils, some of whom were unhappy at being merged with other parishes.

Conversely, the three South Forest towns represented by five members wards have been split into the maximum three-member wards recommended by the Commission.

"As is" below may mean some adjustments to the redistribution to the electoral roll.

Alvington and Aylburton (1 member) joins with Woolaston (1 member) plus Hewelsfield and Brockweir parish as is. If this is not accepted they might be combined as Clanna ward (2 members).

Awre (1 member) remains as is.

Blaisdon and Longhope (1 member) and Mitcheldean (2 members) remain as is.

Churcham and Huntley (1 member) as is.

Cinderford (5 members) becomes Cinderford East (2 members) and Cinderford West (3

members).

Coleford (5 members) becomes Coleford Central (2 members) and Coleford East (3 members).

Drybrook (2 members), Lydbrook (2 members) and Ruardean (1 member) form Lydbrook and Ruardean (3 members) and Drybrook (1 member).

Dymock and Kempley (1 member) becomes Bromsberrow and Dymock (1 member).

Hartpury (1 member) remains as is.

Littledean (1 member) and Ruspidge (1 member) combine as Littledean and Ruspidge (2 members).

Lydney (5 members) becomes Lydney North (1 member), Lydney West (1 member) and Lydney East (3 members).

Newent and Oxenhall (1 member) and Newent Central (2 members) as is.

Redmarley (1 member) as is.

Tibberton (1 member) as is.

Tidenham (3 members) as is.

Westbury-on-Seven (1 member) and Newnham (1 member) combine as Newnham and Westbury (2 members).

In West Dean parish Bream (3 members), Broadwell (2 members) and Pillowell (2 members – total 7) become:

Christchurch (1 member).

Berry Hill and English Bicknor (3 members).

Pillowell (2 members).

Bream (2 members).

Newland and St Briavels (2 members) including Ellwood and Sling.

There will be further opportunity for public consultation when the Commission publishes its recommendations in the New Year.