Voters in the Maldon district are set for change as the Boundary Commission makes its final recommendations.

Wards in the area are due to be altered, but a controversial plan to move the parish of Asheldham under the ward of Southminster has been axed.

Tollesbury will be less visible at district council meetings, as Jeremy Baker, solicitor to the council, says the parish is currently over-represented.

"The parish will lose a councillor and will now be represented by a single figure," he said.

But Mayland will gain from the changes as two full councillors and a third shared with the Latchingdon and Althorne ward are due to be allocated to the village.

Heybridge residents will also do well out of the changes, with another councillor speaking up for them.

The final report of the Boundary Commission endorses the view expressed months ago, apart from the change to the Asheldham parish.

Councillors objected to the transfer of Althorne to the Southminster ward so the commission amended its plans.

"To put it under Southminster seemed very silly as they don't share a parish council, but our suggestion to bring it under Tillingham was accepted," said Mr Baker.

He said the result of the changes would not be too drastic and should not alter much for residents.

And although the recommendations have not been formally agreed by the Secretary of State, Mr Baker said it was unlikely any further changes would be made.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.