THE map of Halton looks set to change dramatically after proposals for new ward boundaries were revealed by the council.

A report, to be discussed at a full council meeting this Wednesday, outlines plans for 18 new three-member wards and one new single-member ward.

Ten of those wards will be in Runcorn, with the rest in Widnes.

There will be 55 elected councillors, which is one fewer than the current council make-up, but one more than initial proposals for 54 councillors.

The single-member ward will be Daresbury – currently a two-member, Conservative-controlled ward. Daresbury Ward contains the parishes of Moore, Daresbury, Preston Brook and Sandymoor.

The council report explained that significant housing growth is projected to take place in this area, making the existing Daresbury Ward “too large to sustain a three-member arrangement”.

It is proposed that a single-member ward cover the parishes of Preston Brook and Daresbury, and a three-member ward cover the parished areas of Sandymoor and Moore.

Other key changes that may cause a stir include proposals to scrap Heath ward in Runcorn – the only Lib Dem-controlled ward in the borough. Heath will merge with Beechwood ward to become “West Runcorn”, which will be the largest ward geographically in the town if proposals are approved.

West Runcorn will include the communities of Weston Point and Clifton, adjoining the Manchester Ship Canal to the south, while its northern boundary will predominantly follow A533 express way and railway line.

Significant changes in Widnes include scrapping the historic Hale Village as its own ward and merging it with Halebank and Ditton.

Here are the new Runcorn wards: Sandymoor ward  This ward comprises the parishes of Sandymoor and Moore.

Daresbury ward This ward comprises the parishes of Daresbury and Preston Brook. Norton North ward

The new Norton North will be formed mostly on the current one, as the council found “no reason to substantially move away from the current electoral arrangements as there exists strong defining features that form the boundary to the area”.

Halton Castle and Windmill Hill ward This will largely comprise Halton Village, the Castlefields estate and the Windmill Hill estate. Norton South ward

A large part of the new electorate was in the former Norton South ward and this proposed ward now incorporates a larger footfall including an area of the Palacefields estate area.

Halton Lea ward This ward comprises the Halton Lea shopping district and the adjoining estate areas closest in proximity to it, such as Hallward Park.

Grange ward This ward is mainly formed from the former Grange ward, but new ward arrangements now include other areas of the Higher Runcorn district.

West Runcorn ward This ward now comprises areas of the Beechwood ward and Heath ward, covering a substantial area of West Runcorn.

Mersey View ward Areas of Runcorn Town Centre are proposed to be joined with Weston Village to form Mersey View.

Bridgewater ward The proposed ward extends across much of what was formerly the Halton Brook ward, as well as areas of the  former Mersey ward.  

Here are the new Widnes wards: Ditton, Halebank and Hale Village This proposed ward merges the existing Hale and Ditton wards and will contain the three communities reflected in the name.

Halton View The proposed new ward will cover much of the existing ward and extend to the housing estate on Page Lane, the houses on the west side of Page Lane and the area at the top of Barrows Green Lane. Farnworth  The size of the existing Farnworth ward is to be reduced, but will retain the longest standing parts such as the historic Farnworth Villiage. Other areas will be tranferred to either Halton View or Appleton and Chadwick. Birchfield  The area to the north of Cronton Lane and to the west of Norlands Lane will  be moved into the proposed new Birchfield ward.

Bankfield  The new Bankfield ward will include Hough Green station and is named after the local secondary school that serves that area. The current Ditton polling districts of GE and GF will be moved to Bankfield and areas from (but not including) Coronation Drive in the current GA polling district will also be transferred into the Bankfield Ward. Hough Green 

The existing Hough Green ward is not proposed to change. Riverside, New Town and St Michael’s The name is a reflection of the three communities that make up the proposed ward.

Kingsway Heath This ward covers the area traditionally known as Kingsway as well as the Heath Road area.

Appleton Chadwick This ward is centred around the area of Appleton Villiage. Two new neighbourhoods will move into the existing Appleton ward, including the new-build Chadwick estate, while the area below the town centre (from Gerrard Street) which is currently in Appleton, will be moved into the Riverside, New Town and St Michaels Ward.