The leader of the Three Rivers Conservative group sees electoral opportunity for his party in the district’s newly redrawn council boundaries.

Ralph Sangster, who represents Moor Park and Eastbury, said he hoped the new political map and the all-out elections it would bring next year could help narrow the gap between his party and the ruling Liberal Democrats.

The Conservatives are currently the second largest part at Three Rivers with 13 councillors to the Lib Dems’ 28.

This morning the Boundary Commission released its final draft of its new ward map for the district which will see the number of district councillors reduced from 48 to 39 next year.

Councillor Sangster said: "It will make for an interesting election next year. We anticipate we will be able to narrow the gap between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats."

Next year will all Three Rivers council seats up for election as part of the introduction of the new ward boundaries.

Usually only a third of the district’s seats go up for election at any one time as the district holds elections three out of the four years in the normal electoral cycle.

Councillor Sangster called on Three Rivers’ ruling Liberal Democrats to take the opportunity next year to scrap the three-year electoral model and move to having one every four years.

The Conservative said holding fewer elections would save money and warned the current system risk fatiguing voters by asking them to vote most years.

He added: "We have been encouraging the council to change over as it would save money."