THERE are just a few weeks left for people to give their views on proposals for new council ward boundaries in North Yorkshire.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is proposing that Richmondshire District Council should have 24 councillors in the future; ten fewer than the current arrangements.

Those councillors would represent 17 new wards; eleven of them would be represented by just one councillor, five would have two councillors and one ward – Catterick and Brompton-on-Swale - would be represented by three councillors.

The five new wards to be represented by two councillors would be; Scotton, Hipswell, Colburn, Richmond West and Leyburn.

The remaining wards with one councillor representing them would be; Bolton Castle; Croft; Gilling West; Hawes and High Abbotside; Lower Wensleydale; Melsonby; Middleton Tyas; Richmond East; Richmond North; Swaledale and Arkengarthdale; and Yoredale.

The aim of the proposals for the new wards is to provide electoral equality, so councillors represent as closely as possible the same number of voters and also reflect community interests and identities.

Earlier in the year Richmondshire District Council said it was pleased the commission had agreed with the council that the authority was "oversized" and could easily operate with a third less members, but it had felt having 24 single member wards would make it clearer for residents to know who their elected representative is.

The consultation on the proposals closes on January 15.

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said: “We are keen to hear local views about our boundary proposals before we finalise them in April next year.

“We want to make sure ward boundaries across Richmondshire reflect the identities and interests of local communities as well as delivering electoral fairness for voters.

“This is your last chance to have your say before we finalise the recommendations.”

Local people can have their say directly by visiting https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/9799.

The full recommendations and detailed maps are also available on the commission’s main website; lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/yorkshire-and-the-humber/north-yorkshire/richmondshire.

The commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible in order to develop final recommendations for Richmondshire. If you would like to make a submission to the commission, please write or email by January 15, 2018.