PEOPLE in Middlesbrough are being asked for help in drawing up new ward boundaries in order to ensure electoral equality for voters across the town.

In a bid to ensure every councillor standing in council elections represents around the same number of voters, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England is reviewing Middlesbrough’s ward boundaries.

it is also considering a proposal to reduce the number of councillors in the area from 48 to 46.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “The starting point of an electoral review is for the Commission to take a view on the number of councillors who should represent the authority in future.

"On the evidence presented to the Commission, we are minded to recommend that Middlesbrough should have 46 councillors in future.”

The Commission is now asking people and groups across Middlesbrough to help in producing a new pattern of wards that will accommodate 46 councillors and reflect the interests and identities of communities.

Mr Caller said: “We’re now asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Middlesbrough.

"As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.

"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 district or just a small part of it.”

The Commission is seeking information about where the public believes ward boundaries should be, which areas they identify as being part of their local community and where people in their area go to access local facilities.

Views can be submitted from now until Monday, February 18. To have a say, email reviews@lgbce.org.uk or write to The Review Officer (Middlesbrough), Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5LG. All submissions will be published online, giving the public chance to view all proposals received.

Draft recommendations will be published in May 2013 before a further period of public consultation. The new wards would come into being at the 2015 local elections.

More information is available at consultation.lgbce.org.uk.