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Risca could lose a seat under final boundary reviews for Caerphilly County Borough Council.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has published its final recommendations for changes to the borough’s wards.

Conducted every few years, the reviews make sure each ward has a roughly equal ratio of voters to councillors.

The latest review found four outlying wards, prompting a shake-up of some boundaries.

Most notable is the proposed merging of the current Risca East and Risca West wards and reducing the number of councillors to four, from the existing five.

In his comments to the commission, Risca West councillor Bob Owen expressed support for the merger, and described the current east-west split of the town as “invisible”.

Cllr Owen said the town is “viewed as a single community by its residents”, adding he believed “with some confidence the vast majority of residents will welcome a reunited Risca”.

The commission has also proposed a change to the Gilfach ward, which if approved will retain its single county council seat and will gain the Park area – containing 688 voters – from the neighbouring Aberbargoed Bargoed ward.

But the commission dropped an original proposal to merge the two wards into a single Bargoed seat following representations during a recent public consultation period.

They included comments from Cllr Carol Andrews, who represents Gilfach, and said people living in her ward “identify themselves as living in Gilfach, not Bargoed or Aberbargoed”.

Similarly, the commission has not taken forward an original proposal to merge the existing Crosskeys and Ynysddu wards.

Ynysddu’s two ward representatives, Cllrs Jan Jones and Janine Reed, both objected to the proposal, arguing it was “not compatible” due to geographical changes and differing community needs.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge, who grew up in the Ynysddu ward, also objected to the proposed merger with Crosskeys as “folly of the highest order”.

Following the publication of the final report, Shereen Williams, the commission’s chief executive, thanked everyone who took part in the consultation.

“With reviews now happening more regularly, we’re glad to be in a position where the vast majority of wards are already within the target ratio of electors to councillors,” she said.

“This is reflected in the large number of wards which we’ve recommended no changes to at this review.”

The commission’s final recommendations will now go to the Welsh Government, which will decide whether to put the changes into effect.

Any members of the public wishing to comment on the final recommendations should make their representations in writing to: Elections Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

Representations can also be emailed to Etholiadau.elections@gov.wales