PROPOSALS to slim down Newport council have emerged from the first stage of a major electoral review.

It could see the number of councillors cut from 50 to 45 and combining some wards to reduce the total from 20 to just 12.

But creating "giant" wards with less representatives is likely to prove controversial.

Local government minister Dr Brian Gibbons asked for the review of all local authority areas earlier this year.

Members of the Local Boundary Commission have now produced their draft recommendations and invited responses by December 22.

Newport has an electorate of 102,726 and the aim is for each ward to have a councillor to electorate ratio no lower than 1:1,750.

Changes being proposed include the following.

* combining Alway with Ringland, Beechwood with St Julians, Pillgwenlly with Stow Hill and Bettws with Malpas with the total number of seats in each new ward reduced by one * cutting the Lliswerry councillors from four to three.

* combining Allt-yr-yn with Shaftesbury and Graig with Marshfield but with the same number of seats.

* Caerleon and Victoria to remain unchanged.

Some community councils and political groups have already made initial representations, and Newport council will discuss it at a future date.

But, giving his personal opinion, Allt-yr-yn Cllr Matthew Evans was unhappy about some of the proposal which he described as "nonsensical".

He said merging Allt-yr-yn and Shaftesbury to create a five-seat ward did not appear to be in the best interests of local people.

"I also have very serious concerns that the proposals are largely outside the minister's original directions to the boundary commission. The suggestion was that the number of Newport councillors should have gone up, if they are basing it on ratios.

"That wasn't something I was in favour of but reducing it will cause unnecessary disruption. I would have been happy to maintain the status quo."