NEW giant wards with upwards of a dozen villages are the price of reorganisation of the Winchester boundaries, a meeting heard.

The Boundary Commission is consulting on draft proposals following the city council decision to cut the number of councillors from 57 to 45.

It means some huge wards with communiities that have little in common, such as Twford and Upper Meon Valley which stretches from Compton near Winchester to Droxford in the deepest Meon Valley.

Cllr Norma Bodtger, Conservative member for the current Upper Meon Valley told the overview and scrutiny committee: “My ward will be part of a new one with 17 villages. I don’t know who came up with this bright idea but not much thought has gone into it.”

In another controversial proposal Colden Common and Twyford, joined for years, will be split.

Cllr Margot Power, Lib Dem member for The Alresfords, said the large wards were because the Tories voted to retain elections by thirds, whereby there are polls three years in four. It means there has to be three-member wards hence the large size.

Labour group leader Chris Pines said: “We are getting what we deserve but I don’t think the Winchester voters are getting what they deserve. It will means communities (inwards) that have nothing to do with each other.”

The consultation ends on April 6.