THREE new council seats have been created in a major shakeup of the way Cheshire West and Chester residents vote.
The Boundary Commission has redrawn the map of the borough, creating an additional 22 wards, which was announced just after the deadline for withdrawal from council elections last week. A total of 231 candidates are now preparing to go head-to-head for a total of 75 seats – up from 72 – after it was decided the wards did not accurately reflect the population sizes.
CWaC chief executive Steve Robinson said: “The new ward map of Cheshire West has resulted in major changes to ward structures, particularly in city and town centres, and many will have new names.”
For the first time the 253,470 electors in the borough will be voting in 46 wards, of which five will have three members, 19 two members and 22 will have one councillor. Under the new arrangements each elected member will represent an average 3,418 voters.
A Boundary Commission review followed the 2009 local government re-organisation. The present make-up of the council is 55 Conservatives, 13 Labour and four Liberal Democrats.
For more information go to http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/ north-west/cheshire/cheshire-west-_and_-chester-electoral-review