Oxford city councillors are backing opponents of a scheme to switch voters to different wards.

Critics say changes proposed by the Local Government Boundary Commission could split up communities in the city.

The commission says the number of council wards in the city should be increased from 17 to 24, each represented by two councillors.

The aims is to make voting fairer, with each ballot paper cast carrying the same weight.

But parish councils and residents associations in some parts of the city are concerned community identities will be undermined.

The city council has also asked for a rethink. Councillors voted 19-18 in favour of writing to the commission highlighting areas of the city which should remain in the same ward.

Cllr Jock Coats, who proposed the move in response to concerns raised by people in his Old Marston and Risinghurst ward, said: "I am surprised that other parties did not recognise the importance of local communities and were prepared to put them on the line if these proposals had gone through unchecked.

"The council will now be asking the commission to think again about several areas all over the city where they had suggested splitting communities for the sake of equal ward sizes."

He said the figures of voters in each ward would have been inaccurate within a few months because new housing had not been taken into account.

Individuals, community groups and the council have until April 23 to send their views to the commission.

Cllr Coats said the views of people living in areas of the city where ward boundary alterations were proposed would carry more weight with the commission than the council's objections.

He said: "It is debatable how much influence the council can have because the most important message will come from local people themselves. The commission sets rules so that it can remain immune from politics. It recognises that parties will try to divide areas up so that they can win votes."

How you would be affected by change: If the Commission's proposals are adopted, the following ward boundary changes would come into effect next year.

*Lye Valley would be separated from the rest of Wood Farm, which would become part of a new Churchill ward.

*The Temple Cowley area would be divided between two wards. Under these proposals, Horspath Road would be removed from Temple Cowley and become part of the Cowley and Lye Valley ward.

*The parish of Risinghurst and Sandhills would be spilt between two separate wards, creating a new Barton and Sandhills ward and a Quarry and Risinghurst ward.

*William Street, currently in Marston ward, would be put in the proposed Headington Hill and Northway ward.

*Four houses in Ingle Close in Northway would be in a different ward from the rest of the houses on the estate and be grouped in a ward with Old Headington.

*Sandy Lane West would be split from the rest of Littlemore and placed in the proposed Northfield Brook ward.

*Properties west of Walton Street would become part of a new Jericho and Osney ward and those to the east would fall into Manor Ward, incorporating streets to the north of Little Clarendon Street.