A SHAKE-UP could be on the cards for Torfaen tinder new proposals for how voters are represented at the council.

Under a new scheme the number of county councillors would fall from 44 to 41, with several wards rearranged to better represent people living in them.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales says the draft proposals will help even out the number of voters who are represented in each ward.

It is now seeking comment on the proposals before it finalises its report and sub-mits it to the Welsh Assembly Government. Under the scheme a num-ber of Cwmbran wards would be shaken up. The three-member Pontnewydd area in Cwmbran would be split, with a new ward, Cwmbran and Llantarnam, formed from the Northville area of Pontnewydd and the existing two-member ward of Llantaram.

Three councillors would represent the area. The Lowlands and Avondale areas of Pontnewydd would be merged with Croesyceiliog North to form a new ward called Croesyceiliog and Pontnewydd, which would be served by three councillors.

St Dials would remain a two-member ward but with the Mount Pleasant area of Pontnewydd attached. Llanyrafon North and Llanyrafon South single-councillor seats would be merged into the two-seat ward known as Lianyraton, while Two Locks would he renamed Henllys and Two Locks.

Further north, the Griffithstown East and Sebastopol East areas of the three-member Panteg ward would be split off into their own areas, represented by one councillor each.

Cymynyscoy, which currently has just one councillor, would be merged with the rest of Panteg to form a two-councillor seat called Cymynyscoy and Panteg.

Single-councillor areas Brynwern, Pontnewynydd and Wainfelin would also be merged into a three-councillor ward called Pen Tranch.

Comments should be sent to Secretary of the Commission at Caradog House, 1-6 St Andrew's Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BE, before July 1.