Boundary changes have been proposed by a working party of county councillors which would see a radical shake-up in the community council wards of Llangattock-Vibon-Avel and Llantilio Crosenny.

The proposal is to change the wards so instead of running north to south, they would follow the 'key natural boundaries' of the B4521 and the B4233 running east to west through the community.

Additionally, it would give the county council the opportunity to re-name the communities based on the three castles in the area that formed a strategic defence in the 12th century, namely Skenfrith, Grosmont and Whitecastle, and "highlight these key historic features within the community".

The revisions would see the communities of Llantilio Crosenny and Llangattock-Vibon-Avel reborn as Whitecastle and Skenfrith.

It is proposed to incorporate the ward of Llanvethrine, at present within the Grosmont group, into the Whitecastle community, which would also include the villages of Rockfield, Newcastle, Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, Penrhos and Llantilio Crosenny.

The new Skenfrith ward would then

comprise of Skenfrith and Llanvethrine, both with one councillor, and Cross Ash with five councillors to represent them.

The Whitecastle ward would contain the wards of Whitecastle; Penrhos and Rockfield with St Maughans, all with two councillors; Newcastle, Llangattock-Vibon-Avel and Llanvihangel Ystern Llewern with one councillor.

All members of the county council's working party approved the proposals and it is proposed consultations would commence in January.

Clerk to the Llangattock-Vibon-Avel Community Council and former clerk to Llantilio Crosenny, Roy Nicholas, has written to John Pearson, local democracy manager at Monmouthshire County Council to put forward the reasons why he believes the community will be best served under the current arrangements, utilising 10 councillors, and hopes that democracy will prevail when the plans are discussed at consultation level.