RURAL communities around Winchester will be split by a planned shake-up of council wards, civic chiefs were warned.

Neighbouring villages like Colden Common and Twyford are set to elect different councillors under changes designed to tackle voter inequality.

The revamp is yet to be confirmed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which has ignored some of Winchester City Council's suggestions in its draft plan.

Under the proposals, Twyford will share councillors with villages almost 10 miles away in the Upper Meon Valley ward, while Colden Common will join Hursley, Oliver's Battery and Otterbourne.

Harestock will be split from Littleton, and residents of the 2,000-home Barton Farm development will elect councillors with Kings Worthy.

Colden Common and Twyford councillor Daryl Henry objected to the plans because the villages share schools, police, a doctors surgery and concerns over traffic and poor public transport.

“I can't stress enough that Colden Common and Twyford share the same challenges and benefits of sharing the same ward,” she told cabinet on Wednesday.

"I understand from police at a recent PACT [Police and Communities Together] meeting that they are very unhappy about these proposals.

“The recommendations do not reflect the community identity and interests.”

A recent Barton Farm Forum meeting heard concerns that pairing the development with Kings Worthy would harm integration with the city.

The changes, which will see the number of city councillors shrink from 57 to 45, do not affect May's elections.

Winchester City Council has until April 6 to make suggestions to the commission, which will publish final recommendations on June 30.