A drive to make sure everyone in Basildon has equal access to a councillor begins tomorrow.

People will be able to have their say about a new draft electoral map at a series of meetings which begin with tomorrow's Central Basildon committee.

Different electoral areas, or wards as they are known, are being put under the microscope.

Basildon District Council says the review is long over-due as the last re-organisation of wards was more than 20 years ago.

The aim is to ensure all areas of the district have the same amount of representation, with all councillors having roughly the same number of electors in their ward.

Since the mid 1970s there have been large shifts and increases in electorate which has led to some imbalances in Basildon.

For example in Nethermayne there are 2,312 electors for every councillor while in Wickford South there are 4,000.

At the moment there are 14 wards, each with three councillors, adding up to a total of 42 councillors.

The draft scheme will see 16 wards in future, six of which will have two councillors and ten that will still have three councillors.

The forthcoming meetings where people can have their say are: Billericay Area committee, Thursday, January 13; Wickford, Tuesday, January 18 and West Basildon, Wednesday, January 19. All meetings start at 7.30pm.

A detailed version of the proposed new-look map, plus a copy of the Local Government Commission's Notes for Guidance are available at libraries and council offices.

More information is also available from the council's senior electoral administrator, Helen Chapman on 01268 294351.

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