THE independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is calling on residents for help to draw up a new pattern of council wards for Warrington Borough Council.

It has also announced that it is minded to recommend that the council should have 58 councillors in future - one more than the current arrangement.

LGBCE now needs information from people and groups across the town to help it to produce a new pattern of wards to accommodate 58 councillors.

In drawing up new boundaries, the commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters.

The review also aims to ensure that the new council wards reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Warrington.

"The starting point of an electoral review is for the commission to take a view on the number of councillors that should represent the authority in future," said Max Caller, LGBCE chairman.

"On the evidence presented to the commission, we are minded to recommend that Warrington should have 58 councillors.

"We are now asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Warrington.

"As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters - your views will make a difference.

"We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Warrington or just a small part of the borough.

"We will publish all the submissions on our website so that local people can see all the various proposals we receive. Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in August."

Residents have until July 6 to submit their views.

For further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing wards visit www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.

Will you be submitting your views?