A West Cumbrian village is set to retain its own representative on Allerdale council, weeks after plans to scrap the post were revealed amid a major shake up.

Allerdale council faced the possibility of losing nine of its 31 wards after a Government review.

The changes aim to even up the number of voters represented by each councillor.

But, following a public consultation, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has scrapped its plans to merge the Maryport South and Flimby wards.

It means that, if the proposals are approved by Parliament, Flimby will retain its own councillor.

The commission has also scrapped a plan to cut the number of councillors in Workington's St John's ward from three to two, as well as altering the proposed boundary between it and neighbouring St Michael's ward.

And it has agreed with local feedback that Blindcrake should be included in Cockermouth's All Saints ward rather than the Aspatria ward.

Minor tweaks have been made to proposed boundaries elsewhere, a commission spokesman said.

The proposed changes, which would see 49 councillors work across 23 wards, will go before MPs in the coming months.

If agreed, they will come into force for the Allerdale council elections in 2019.

The planned changed would see Salterbeck in Workington would move out of the Moss Bay ward to join Harrington, in a ward represented by three councillors.

Moorclose and Moss Bay would combine in a three-member ward. Stainburn and Clifton would join to become one ward, including Winscales.

The separate Crummock and Derwent Valley wards are set to be replaced with a new single seat.

Embleton is set to move out of Crummock ward into Cockermouth’s All Saints.

The single-seat Marsh and Wampool wards would be combined into one ward with two members. Waver, Wharrels and Holme wards would be scrapped and the areas in them moved into other wards.

A new Silloth and Solway Coast ward would be created with three seats, while the Aspatria ward would see its area grow to the north.

The number of adults in Allerdale is expected to grow by more than 2,000 by 2022, rising from 75,638 last year to 77,836.

The average number of voters per councillor is set to rise from 1,544 to 1,588.

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said, “We are extremely grateful to people across Allerdale who took part in the review. The Commission has looked at all the evidence that was put forward during the consultation.

“We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout Allerdale.”

Full details of the final proposals can be viewed at www.lgbce.org.uk