“UNPRECEDENTED” changes to Corsham boundaries for representation on Wiltshire Council have been met with objection from Corsham Town Council.

Minutes from a Boundary meeting from February confirmed the Local Government Boundary Commission had raised the possibility of imposing a two member division on the area, which would see two councillors represent one “super ward” instead of splitting up the town and neighbouring homes.

Both Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and Cllr Philip Whalley have opposed the plan and argued it would be “not good for democracy” if two councillors shared duties instead of sticking to two distinct areas.

Writing to the Boundary Commission, Cllr Whalley said: “This would be unprecedented within the Wiltshire Unitary Authority and it is evident from discussions at the Area Board and in local meetings is without local public support."

“This provides clear lines of accountability and avoids internal conflict or competing political and non-political interests. People want to know exactly who their Councillor is and to hold them to account.”

Cllr Hopkinson said: “They haven’t put this option forward in any other places. There is no justification for it. It undermines their own criteria, each council lot should represent equal or near equal amounts of people.”

Cllr Whalley said: “The Commission’s proposal creates a Town Division with numbers already at 10 per cent above the average, the maximum allowable. But this takes no account of the Corsham Neighbourhood Plan. This, in the short and medium term, will restrict housing growth to infilling on brownfield sites within the town boundary

Chairman Cllr Steve Abbott said: “It does feel totally out of blue and out of context I don’t think should be too scared saying we don’t like your proposal and offer a sub proposal. Stick to our guns.”