The number of councillors in Argyll and Bute will not be cut, after Scottish ministers overruled the Local Government Boundary Commission.
The commission said the number of elected members on the council should be cut from 36 to 33, and its initial proposals for the Rosneath Peninsula and Loch Lomondside drew overwhelming protests.
These were then revised by the commission, with the Lomond North ward remaining as it is, but the number of councillors serving Helensburgh Central being cut from four to three.
Today though the Scottish Government announced that Argyll and Bute was one of just five areas where recommended boundary changes would not be accepted.
Parliamentary Business Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “In a small number of cases – Argyll and Bute, Dundee City and Scottish Borders – we have listened to local representations and left boundaries as they currently stand, to ensure that strong historic ties in particular areas and communities are maintained.
“Significant concerns were raised about aspects of the commission’s proposals for those areas, in particular that they would not reflect local communities.
“While the commission did try to address these in its final recommendations, it was clear from the responses to those recommendations that many of those concerns remained.
“We therefore decided that the better course would be to keep the status quo for those areas.”
Today’s decision was welcomed as good news for local democracy by the leader of Argyll and Bute Council.
Dick Walsh said: “Argyll and Bute has 23 inhabited islands and the second largest mainland of all of Scotland’s 32 council areas.
“There was a real concern that any changes would make it difficult for communities to be represented due to the challenges posed by travel and the lack of regular public transport links.
“I am pleased that these representations have been listened to by ministers.”
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