CHORLEY'S political landscape looks set for major change following new electoral arrangements overseen by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The recommendations from the Local Government Commission for England mark the end of a year-long review of districts in Lancashire.

They include changes to the numbers of district councillors and to ward boundaries across the county.

In time for the 2002 elections, the Commission has confirmed its draft recommendations for Chorley -- creating a three-member Clayton and Whittle ward and a single member Pennine ward.

The borough wards of Eccleston and Heskin will come under a new title of Eccleston and Mawdesley while a new ward called Chisnell will swallow Charnock Richard, Heskin and parts of Coppull -- a contentious issue with councillors.

This will mean that the total number of councillors in the Chorley borough will be 47 -- compared with 48 at present -- who will represent 20 wards, reduced from 22.

Professor Malcolm Grant, Commission chairman, said: "The aim of our review has been to ensure that one person's vote should have the same value as another's.

"The improvements in electoral equality we are recommending meet that objective without disrupting community interests."

However, borough, parish and county councillor Alan Whittaker, who represents the ward of Eccleston and Heskin, says many parish councils objected to the proposals when they were first floated.

He said: "Heskin, Mawdesley, Charnock Richard, Eccleston and Coppull parish councils all objected to these boundary changes when they first came about.

"The objections were all about community links because there's no real link between the parishes.

"Linking Heskin with Charnock Richard and Coppull is a strange connection because there's no real common interest between them.

"We will now have to find ways of bringing the community together -- it's going to be a new era for local government and in particular the rural wards of Chorley."