WATCHET could make a bid to go it alone rather than be merged into one ward with Williton when the new joint West Somerset and Tauntion Deane council comes in.
The idea was aired by Watchet’s mayor Cllr Peter Murphy at West Somerset Council’s meeting on Wednesday.
Members were discussing the recommendations to be submitted to the Boundary Commission on new warding proposals which would see West Somerset councillors cut from 28 to 15.
Under the proposals, a new joint Watchet and Williton ward would be created with three councillors – currently Watchet has three and Williton two.
Cllr Murphy said that after informal discussions with both Watchet and Williton district councillors, he had the impression that the “general preference” was for the two wards to remain separate.
He said the problem was that the population of Williton was 324 more than the maximum allowed for a single-member ward and Watchet was 495 less than the number required for a two-member ward.
He said he couldn’t speak for Williton councillors, but the matter had already been discussed by Watchet Town Council and he thought the council might well further consider the subject.
He acknowledged the problems which would occur if changes were made to the proposals but said there was still hope that the two areas could remain “electorially distinct”.
Council leader Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew told Cllr Murphy: “The trouble is, if you start changing one part of the plan, it will have a ripple effect across the whole district.”
But he added that if Watchet did make a submission, the Boundary Commission would give it consideration.
This week saw both West Somerset and Taunton Deane councils being asked to vote on recommended proposals for the new 58-member Somerset West and Taunton Council.