Eleven councillors could lose their posts under plans to shrink Braintree Council by 20 per cent.

On Monday the Local Government Boundary Commission for England released draft recommendations to reduce the number of district councillors from 60 to 49.

Councillors representing Braintree town and the surrounding villages would drop from 28 to 22, while there would be 14 rather than 16 in Witham.

Halstead councillors would also be reduced from 16 to 13.

The consultation will run until April 14 before final recommendations are put in place and the new wards are used for the 2015 elections.

Braintree Council leader Graham Butland said: “We put in proposals for 50, they have come up with 49 and we are delighted that will cut costs to taxpayers."

Phil Barlow, district councillor and leader of the Labour group, said: “To drop another one [from the original proposal of 50] adds insult to injury."

Many of the ward names have also been changed such as Witham South becoming the Witham Maltings and Braintree East being renamed Braintree Central and Beckers Green.

To comment on the plans visit lgbce.org.uk