COUNCILLORS are to discuss possible changes to two parish boundaries.

Durham County Council chiefs are recommending about 150 voters living at the former Cape Asbestos factory site in Bowburn be included in Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council, rather than Shincliffe Parish Council.

A previous electoral review by the Local Government Boundary Commission resulted in Shincliffe Parish Council being divided into two wards.

Homes on the former Cape site were grouped into Shincliffe’s new Bell parish ward, with one councillor, while all others formed a Shincliffe parish ward, with six councillors.

However, after both parish councils suggested residents there were likely to use doctors, shops and leisure facilities in Bowburn, Durham County Council carried out a Community Governance Review.

That review recommends the new housing estate be moved into Cassop-cum-Quarrington.

The area currently described as Bell would become part of Cassop-cum-Quarrington’s West Ward. The parish would then have two wards and 15 councillors.

Shincliffe would become an unwarded parish with seven councillors.

The details can be studied online at durham.gov.uk/communitygovernance and will be discussed by Durham County Council in January.

If agreed, the changes would come into effect on April 1.