CONCERN is growing that another revamp of local government could undermine the voice of rural communities.

In the early 1990s, the Boundary Commission redrew the regional map, resulting in Humberside disappearing and York becoming the master of its own affairs.

Harrogate, Hambleton and North Yorkshire County Council have since adopted new regimes, with cabinets and scrutiny teams replacing the committee system.

But with low election turnouts reflecting apathy towards local government, Westminster is looking to modernise the way town halls work - and parity in the number of electors per ward is one issue being considered by another Boundary Review team.

But in the Yorkshire Dales, it has been claimed that more far-flung communities could lose out as a result.

County councillor John Blackie said: "What may come forward in the review is the suggestion to split Upper Wensleydale from Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

"This should be resisted at all costs as it will lead to Upper Wensleydale being tagged on to Leyburn or its hinterland, and Swaledale and Arkengarthdale with Catterick Garrison, or other similar proposals mixing town and country with our Dales communities.

"These scenarios would destroy the platform we currently have for advocating deeply rural issues and solutions and would dilute or submerge our message in new county council divisions based predominantly on towns where - by the law of numbers - the issues which mean the most to Dales communities will be relegated to a back seat position."

Coun Blackie has written to parish councils in the Upper Dales ward to alert them to the danger and to urge them to resist the change.

Boundary review team spokesman Stephen Knight said the county council would welcome the public's views.

He said: "Local people will be given an opportunity to comment through the authority's Richmondshire area committee, but we would also welcome comment at county hall. Feedback is very important and, if there were enough people telling us they want the Upper Dales left as they are, then that is what we would be telling the Government."