FINAL plans for changes to the electoral wards in Hanbury have been submitted to the Electoral Commission.

The recommendations from the Boundary Committee for England mark the end of a year-long review.

If given the go-ahead this year, there will be a Hanbury south parish, which would be included in the Inkberrow ward, and a Hanbury north parish, included in a new Hanbury and Dodderhill ward, thus abolishing the Hanbury councillor on Wychavon District Council.

The aim is to even out the numbers of voters for each ward in time for next year.

Villagers have mixed feelings but many feel that the proposal for Hanbury will split the parish, which has just more than 700 people.

Their feelings were highlighted in The Advertiser earlier this year when committee chiefs began to draw up the draft plans.

At that time, John Bannister, who had lived in Hanbury for six years, said the proposal could be fatal.

"I can't see how a small village like Hanbury is going to make much difference to the number of people in each ward," he said.

"To split us across the middle is crackers and could destroy the community.

"It certainly doesn't help to keep it together."

Wychavon district councillor for Hanbury, Councillor Tony Hotham (Con) said: "The boundary draft review has sacrificed Hanbury on the altar of the numbers game with this disastrous decision to split the parish.

"There will be untold difficulties of administration with planning matters for the south being referred to the parish council in the north and represented by a council member from Inkberrow."