Residents in Cornwall are being asked to discuss electoral changes with the county council.

A major review of the council is to determine how people in the county are represented for the next 20 years.

The deadline for comments about possible ward boundary changes is the end of the week.

At the moment, some council wards in the county have more voters than others.

More councillor posts could be created

A Periodic Electoral Review is to take place in two months and a panel has been set up to listen to concerns.

Review panel chairwoman Pat Rowe said: "We have instructions from the Boundary Commission to review councillor numbers.

"We must also look at the boundaries of each ward to ensure residents get equal representation."

Cornwall has 79 councillors, each of whom represents one electoral division which is supposed to contain 5,000 voters. However, there are variations.

In St Ives in west Cornwall, there is a ward of about 3,500 electors, whereas the St Stephens ward in north Cornwall has about 7,500.

Pat Rowe said: "We shall have to look at changing boundaries which will not be a terribly easy thing to do."

Discussing options

Torpoint could be one ward affected. It could be split into two wards, with two councillors covering each.

Area county councillor John Crago said: "A few county councillors are not happy because it will make their wards more difficult to get around."

But Torpoint Mayor Stan Martin feels it would be a change for the better.

He said: "I think we have to move with the times and we could do with two wards."

Residents have until Friday to discuss three options: increase, decrease or maintain the current council size.

The review will then start in March and is expected to be completed by next summer.