THE independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people to comment on plans for council ward boundaries across Somerset’s newest local authority.

In May, the Government confirmed that West Somerset Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council should merge to form a new local authority.

The commission’s consultation now proposes ward boundaries to be used to elect councillors in the new Somerset West and Taunton Council. It is open until August 27 for anyone who is interested how they will be represented by the new council.

The commission proposes that the council should have a total of 59 councillors, and has drawn up 17 one-councillor wards, 12 two-councillor and six three-councillor.

If approved, the changes will come into effect for the new authority’s first election next May.

Details in the Free Press (July 6).