COUNTY: The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people for their help to draw up a new pattern of electoral divisions for Dorset County Council.

The consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will re-draw division boundaries across the whole county.

The Commission has also announced that it is minded to recommend that the council should have 46 county councillors in the future, one more than the current arrangements.

The Commission now needs information from people and groups across Dorset to help it to produce a new pattern of electoral divisions to accommodate 46 county councillors, ahead of draft recommendations in May next year.

In drawing up new boundaries, the Commission said it aimed to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each county councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. The review also aims to ensure that the new council divisions reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Dorset.

Max Caller, chairman of the Commission, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new electoral divisions for Dorset.

“If you have a view about which communities, parishes or neighbourhoods should be part of the same county division, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Dorset, then this consultation is for you.

“Alternatively, if you’re simply interested in the way the county is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say,” he added.