TWO new council wards could be created in Andover under new proposals for the biggest local authority shake-up in the area for almost two decades.

The creation of seats Andover Romans, covering the new Augusta Park estate, and Andover Downlands, spanning the Picket Twenty development, feature in the Local Government Boundary Commission’s draft proposals for a new-look Test Valley Borough Council.

As a result of the proposed changes, the number of councillors in the Andover area could rise from 15 to 16 – although TVBC say each member will represent a higher number of residents than before.

This is because the overall number of councillors across Test Valley could drop from 48 to 43 under the plans, while the number of wards would be reduced from 24 to 20.

Commenting on the proposals, leader of the council, and former chair of the electoral review members group, councillor Phil North, said: “Right from the beginning we were clear that we wanted to see a reduction in the amount of councillors and I’m delighted that the Boundary Commission have endorsed our proposals.

"Their report also praised the borough council’s submission, upon which they have largely based their recommendations.”

One of the major recommendations in the draft proposals is to dissolve the current Alamein ward.

Currently the three seat ward, shared between councillors Alex Brook, Tracey Preston and council leader Phil North, incorporates both Enham Alamein and north Andover.

But under the proposals, the village of Enham would be absorbed into the current Bourne Valley ward.

Meanwhile a new three seat Andover Romans ward would be created to cover the rapidly expanding Augusta Park.

Picket Twenty, currently served by the three St Mary’s councillors, would fall into the new two seat Andover Downlands Ward.

This would push the ward of the three St Mary’s councillors back into the town centre.

Other changes in the Andover area include expanding the Charlton ward, currently held by former leader Ian Carr, to incorporate Penton.

Subsequently, the two seat Penton Bellinger ward could be cut to a one seat ward, named Grasslands.

Another ward which could be dissolved is the Amport ward, currently held by independent Benjamin Brown.

Under plans, the ward will be merged with the Anna area, which currently covers villages such as the Clatford and Anna Valley.

Meanwhile, the majority of the lost wards will be in the middle of Test Valley.

Broughton and Stockbridge, Kings Somborne and Michelmersh, Over Wallop and Dun Valley are all set to go.

They will be replaced by one large “Mid Test” ward, which could have three councillors.

One of those to comments on the proposed changes is Conservative MP, Kit Malthouse.

He said: “These new boundary proposals for Test Valley look eminently sensible to me.

“They have agreed to the TVBC request to reduce the number of councillors, with which I also agree, and they seem to have recognised the need for a better configuration in Andover, with newer developments being brought into the town, which makes a lot of sense.”

“I hope as many people as possible will respond to the consultation positively.”

The proposed changes, which are timetabled to come into effect in time for the 2019 local elections, have also been praised by representatives of both Labour and Liberal Democrat.

Len Gates, chairman for the North West Hampshire Lib Dems, described the changes as “long overdue” and claimed the recommendations could end a “democratic deficit” in Andover.

Labour’s Andy Fitchet agreed, saying he believed the boundary changes gave opposition parties a better chance of winnings seats in the more urban areas of the town.

A nine week public consultation into the proposals began this week and is set to end on Friday, August 14.

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.