THE number of representatives on Somerset Council is set to fall if new boundary changes are approved.

Under plans put forward by the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC), the authority would have 96 councillors – a drop of 14 from the current 110.

The drop would be due to the redrawing of ward boundaries, and the number of councillors elected for different areas.

“(The LGBC) has reviewed Somerset to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that division arrangements will help the council work effectively,” a spokesperson for the independent body said.

“The commission has published final recommendations for changes in Somerset Council. It says residents should be represented by 96 councillors. This is 14 less councillors than there are currently.

“There will be 90 single-councillor divisions and three two-councillor divisions.”

Recommendations for Somerset Council from the LGBC include:

• Frome: Five divisions, with boundaries defined by “natural and man-made features – Frome Central, Frome East, Frome North, Frome South and Frome West – with rural areas separate from the ‘urban’ part of the town.
• North East Somerset: A new ward – Beckington, Norton & Rode – to unite the more rural parishes in a single division.
• Shepton Mallet and Wells: A Rodney, Westbury & Wookey division would be created.
• Shepton Mallet East and Shepton Mallet West & Pilton: As Shepton is “marginally too small” to have two councillors, the LGBC linked the west of the town with nearby Pilton.
• Glastonbury North & West Pennard and Glastonbury South & Meare: Two single-councillor areas covering Glastonbury are recommended, with areas including Meare, Sharpham and West Pennard being linked to parts of the ton itself, in north and south wards.
• Street North and Street South: The proposals split the town area between top and bottom, to create north and south wards.
• Wedmore & Mark: This ward would include the Burnham Without parish east of the M5, including Watchfield, as well as the two named areas.
• Burnham Central and Burnham north, Berrow & Brean: As mentioned previously, Burnham north would include Berrow and Brean, which the LGBC deemed to have close links, while Burnham Central would include the town centre (without the -on-Sea suffix).
• Burnham South & Highbridge North and Highbridge South: As with Burnham, Highbridge has been split into two, with the north of Highbridge being linked with the south of Burnham, with Highbridge South more focussed on the town itself.
• Bridgwater: Bridgwater Bower, Bridgwater Eastover and Bridgwater Kingsdown would be wards representing the east of the town, with Bridgwater Kingsdown linking the new estate with north Sydenham, while Bridgwater Bower includes part of the Bridgwater Without parish, East Bower.
• Bridgwater Hamp: Includes the Hamp Bridge parish in a bid to define the area against that of North Petherton, whose parish boundary is in the area.
• Bridgwater Victoria, Bridgwater Wembdon & Durleigh and Bridgwater Westover: The wards have been created to maintain links between the likes of Wembdon and Durleigh with Bridgwater town, while the more rural parts are also linked.
• Polden Hills and North Petherton: A King Alfred division, covering Ashcott, part of Bridgwater Without, Burrowbridge, Greinton, Middlezoy, Moorlinch, Othery and Westonzoyland is proposed to “achieve better balance”.
• North Petherton and Stockmoor & Willstock: The two divisions would split North Petherton into two, single-councillor wards, with the Stockmoor and Willstock areas being distinct from the ‘old’ North Petherton town, the LGBC said. North Newton and Moorland would be included in North Petherton to preserve strong links with the town.

The final changes – which can be seen in full HERE (opens in a new window) – were decided after various consultations on proposals which ran from 2024 until January this year.

How the LGBC recommendations divide the county wards for Somerset Council. Picture: LGBC

Bev Smith, chair of the LGBC, said: “We are very grateful to people in Somerset. We considered all the comments they gave us on our recommendations for a new electoral map for the area and this has helped us to make changes.

“We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while reflecting the needs and identities of local communities.”

A total of 379 people and organisations made comments to help decide the new divisions, with changes in response to their views including:

The changes become law once Parliament has approved them, with staff at Somerset Council to ensure the arrangements are in place for the May 2027 elections.

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