WEST Dorset District Council could be set to lose six members.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements in the district following a ten-week public consultation.

Its draft proposals suggest new ward boundaries for each council ward across the district with West Dorset represented by 42 councillors as opposed to the 48 members that current sit on the authority.

Chair of the commission Max Caller said: “We are extremely grateful to the people of West Dorset who took the time and effort to send us their views.

“The commission considered every piece of evidence it received before finalising these recommendations.

“Across the district, we have sought to balance the views expressed to us by local people with the criteria we must apply when we are deciding on new electoral arrangements.

“As such, we believe these recommendations deliver electoral equality for voters as well as reflecting the identities of communities across the district.”

The proposals include minor alterations to previous draft recommendations from the commission in relation to Dorchester that is claims will provide stronger and more identifiable ward boundaries.

The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament.

A draft order - the legal document which brings into force the recommendations - will be laid in Parliament in the coming months.

The draft order provides for the new electoral arrangements to come into force at the council elections in 2015.