Residents living in parts of Rawreth and Hockley could find they will be living in Hullbridge if new Government reforms go ahead.

The Government plans to even up the numbers of constituents represented by each councillor by shifting ward boundaries.

While this means a fairer representation for residents, Rochford District Council officers have warned it could mean the erosion of traditional local identities.

A working group made up of councillors and council officers has come up with a way of preserving the wards around Hullbridge, most at risk because of its size.

But now the council says it needs public support for the changes if it is to stop the Local Government Commission forcing through its own.

Paul Warren, Rochford's chief executive, said it was essential residents all over the district responded to the council's proposals.

He said: "We are leafleting all the householders in the district. We need their views on the changes to the ward boundaries and other issues including the frequency of elections.

"We have to get views into the commission by February 28, and if we can demonstrate there is local support for what we have drawn up, the commission will be less inclined to impose something we don't agree with."

The reforms are part of a national programme imposed by the Government to make local government and representation more fair and even.

The aim is to make each ward in a district more or less equal in terms of voters. But in some cases, as with Hullbridge, evening up numbers could upset local boundaries established for hundreds of years.

The council plans to leave the Hullbridge area with two wards serving it.

One ward would be served by one councillor, the other by two, which is one councillor short of the commission's guidelines. Changes to boundaries are expected to affect ten per cent of people in Rochford district.

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