A MAJOR shake-up of Halton's council boundaries has been recommended for approval.

It means the number of councillors representing the area is to be cut by two and the boundaries of all Halton’s current council wards will change as a result of the review.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for Halton Borough Council.

Publication follows three rounds of public consultation and draws newboundaries for each council ward across Halton.

The Commission’s final recommendations propose that Halton should be represented by54 councillors in the future: two fewer than the current arrangement. 

The recommendationsalso propose that those councillors should represent eighteen three-councillorwards. 

Professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the commission, said, “We are extremely grateful to peopleacross the borough who took part in the review. 

"The commission has looked atall the evidence that was put forward during the consultation.” 

In response tolocal feedback, the commission made changes to the draft recommendations itfirst published in December 2018. 

To the east of Runcorn, the Commissionamended its proposals around the Halton Village area and invited local commentson the new proposals in an extra public consultation. 

Following tha tconsultation, the commission now confirms those new proposals for a HaltonCastle, Halton Lea, Norton North and Norton South & Preston Brook wards as final with some small changes that do not affect any voters. 

To the west of the borough, the commission "looked carefully" at representations made duringconsultation on its proposals for a Ditton, Hale Village & Halebank ward. 

However, it was unable to find an alternative pattern of wards "that would deliver fairness for voters" as well as avoiding a split of Halebank parish. 

The commission has therefore confirmed its draft proposal for the Ditton, HaleVillage & Halebank ward as final.

Elsewhere inthe borough, the commission has made minor changes to its draft proposals inresponse to local views, including changing the names of some proposed wards. 

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 inParliament in the coming months. 

The draft Order provides for the new electoralarrangements to come into force at the council elections in 2020.