FIVE council wards in Torfaen could be scrapped if draft proposals for the review of electoral arrangements go ahead.

The county borough area currently comprises 24 wards, but plans to cut this to 19 electoral areas could be brought in in time for the 2022 local government elections.

The number of councillors would also reduce by four from 44 to 40.

The plans would see four current councillors from the Independent and Labour groups unseated, while the Conservative members would be unaffected by the changes.

The alterations will affect Brynwern, Croesyceiliog North, Croesyceiliog South, Cwmynyscoy, Greenmeadow, Llantarnam, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, Snatchwood, St. Cadocs and Penygarn, Trevethin and Upper Cwmbran.

Abersychan, Blaenavon, Coed Eva, Fairwater, Llanyrafon East and Ponthir, Llanyrafon West, New Inn, Panteg, Pontnewydd, St. Dials, Two Locks and Wainfelin will remain the same in terms of ward area and number of councillors.

“The commission proposes a change to the arrangement of electoral wards that will achieve a significant improvement in the level of electoral parity across the county borough of Torfaen,” said the draft proposal report.

“The commission proposes a council of 40 members, down from 44. This results in a proposed county average of 1,769 electors per member.

“The commission proposes 19 electoral wards, a reduction from 24 existing wards.”

Greenmeadow, Llantarnam and Upper Cwmbran – will keep the same geographical area but the number of councillors may change.

The proposals could see one member for Greenmeadow and two in Upper Cwmbran – a cut of one apiece – while Llantarnam could gain an extra councillor, taking it to three members.

Meanwhile, a Croesyceiliog ward with two councillors could be created from the north and south areas. Croesyceiliog North currently has two ward members and one councillor represents Croesyceiliog South. The current wards of Brynwern, Cwmynyscoy and Pontypool – each with one member – could be merged into a new Pontymoile area with two councillors. Similar mergers are proposed with the Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood wards which will create Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood.

The two separate wards currently have one member each and the new merged area would have two councillors.

St. Cadocs and Penygarn and Trevethin could also be merged to create Trevethin and Penygarn. The new area would have two councillors - an overall cut of one.

A 12-week consultation period into the draft proposals will launch on Thursday, May 10, closing on Wednesday, August 1.

To view the report in English or Welsh, go to ldbc.gov.wales