NEW plans to redraw the electoral map of Colchester have been unveiled.

Currently, Colchester borough is divided into 27 wards served by between one and three councillors, with 60 in total serving on the borough.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has already proposed, following consultations, to reduce the number of councillors to 51 and to split the borough into 17 wards each served by three elected representatives.

Now, it has launched a consultation on where the boundaries of these wards are drawn.

The changes mean some of the new wards are huge, with “rural north” stretching from Little Tey in the west to Dedham in the north east.

The proposals take into account the thousands of new homes being built in and around Colchester.

While the wards generally have an electorate of around 8,500, the proposed Mile End ward has 6,267 potential voters now but 8,474 when developments at Severalls Hospital and land off Nayland Road are taken into account.

The boundary commission proposes splitting Mile End and Braiswick, currently one ward, and linking Braiswick with Lexden to the west.

Some of the ward names will also be more recognisable to residents, with Greenstead replacing St Andrew’s and Old Heath replacing Harbour ward.

Commission chair Max Caller CBE said: “Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters. This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people so that everyone’s vote in council elections is worth roughly the same regardless of where you live.

“We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Colchester and that the pattern of wards can help the council deliver effective local government to local people.”

A 12-week consultation began yesterday and will run until January 12, 2015.

A decision will be made next March, and the changes will be implemented in May 2016.

See the proposals and comment at www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk