YOU might not be very close to your neighbours, but the chances are if you live on the same street, you’ll have the same local councillor representing you.

But that’s not the fate which awaits the residents of one Taunton home if the ward map for the next local elections remains as has been proposed.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has put forward proposals for the new Somerset West and Taunton Council, which will replace Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council shortly before the May 2019 elections.

Both of the existing councils are submitting formal responses ahead of the public consultation ending on August 27.

But one quirk of the LGBCE’s  proposals means that one house on a Taunton street could soon find itself in a different electoral ward to its immediate neighbour.

191 Cheddon Road currently lies within the ward of Pyrland and Rowbarton, along with a large number of other properties on Cheddon Road.

But under the proposals put forward by the LGBCE, it would become part of the new Wellsprings and Rowbarton ward, with its immediate neighbour 189 Cheddon Road being in the Priorswood ward.

Somerset County Gazette: Somerset West and Taunton proposed ward boundaries. CREDIT: Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Somerset West and Taunton proposed ward boundaries. MAP: Local Government Boundary Commission for England

West Somerset Council discussed this anomaly at a full council meeting in Williton on Monday afternoon (August 20).

Councillor Steve Pugsley said the council “broadly supported” the LGBCE’s proposals, but asked them to consider changing the boundaries of these wards to allow 191 Cheddon Road to join its neighbours within the Priorswood ward.

The council also requested that a number of the proposed wards be renamed – specifically:

The proposed Tangier ward should be called Manor and Tangier

The proposed Vivary West ward should be called Wilton and Sherford

The proposed Vivary East ward should be called Vivary

The proposed Minehead South ward should be called Periton and Woodcombe

Somerset County Gazette: Somerset West and Taunton proposed ward boundaries with number of ward members key. CREDIT: Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Somerset West and Taunton proposed ward boundaries with number of ward members key. MAP: Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Council leader Anthony Trollope-Bellew, who represents the villages of Crowcombe and Stogumber, criticised the plans for his existing ward to be split into two.

Under the LGBCE proposals, Stogumber would become part of the Old Cleeve ward, while Crowcombe will be lumped together with Bicknoller as part of the South Quantock ward.

Mr Trollope-Bellew argued this would split up two communities which already shared numerous amenities.

He said: “They already share a rector, and share a school, with children going to Stogumber in Years 1 and 2 and to Crowcombe in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

“We even have people in Stogumber who play for Crowcombe’s cricket team and people in Crowcombe who play for Stogumber.”

Mr Trollope-Bellew put forward an amendment which would have altered these boundaries – but this was roundly defeated by the committee.

Councillor Chris Martin raised concerns about whether the new Quantock Vale ward could be adequately represented by a single councillor.

He said: “It is going to be very difficult for one ward member to cover all of this area in light of Hinkley Point C.”

Mr Pugsley said it would be difficult to make further in-depth changes at this stage, warning of the “law of unintended consequences”.

He added: “Any parish or town council can put forward an alternative arrangement to the Boundary Commission.”

The council voted to put forward its suggested changes to the LGBCE by a margin of 21 to one. Councillor Trollope-Bellew abstained from the vote.

Taunton Deane Borough Council will discuss its formal response at a full council meeting in Taunton on Thursday evening (August 23).