CHANGES to council ward boundaries and some polling places were eventually agreed by North Ayrshire councillors last week - but not without them showing their disappointment about the new wards. 

With the changes, there will now be separate wards from Saltcoats and Stevenston, Ardrossan and Arran will now only have three councillors and there will be a completely new ward in Irvine, as the number of councillors in North Ayrshire rises to 33 from the current 30. 

The Boundary Commission’s Ward Boundary review took place and despite the council proposing that 35 council seats be up for grabs come next May, the recommendation of 33 was put forward. 

Ardrossan and Arran Councillor, John Hunter, put forward at the time of submission for the status quo to be maintained and was narrowly defeated by two votes in the council chambers at the time.

Cllr Hunter moved an amendment at last Wednesday’s meeting that it read: “We note, with great disappointment, the imposed changes to ward boundaries”. 

Head of Service for Democratic Services, Andrew Fraser, said that the amendment could be added to the minute of the council meeting and this was generally agreed.

But Cllr Hunter maintained that he wanted it added to the recommendation and the councillors present voted with the outcome of 19-5 in favour of the original recommendation with the added disappointment to the minute. 

Chief Executive, Elma Murray, noted that there would be some minor changes to the polling stations of constituents affected by boundary changes.

St Peter’s Primary School will now be used for both the Ardrossan and Arran and the Saltcoats ward, due to a large proportion of people in Ardrossan now being within the new Saltcoats ward. 

Other changes are set to take place in the Garnock Valley and in Irvine and everyone affected by these changes will be written to prior to next year’s elections of North Ayrshire Council. 

A full breakdown of the new boundaries can be found on the council’s website and on the boundary commission's website. 

The election of councillors to North Ayrshire and the other 31 councils in Scotland is set to take place in May 2017.