Residents of a growing Somerset town are being asked for their views on a possible merger with their closest neighbour.

Castle Cary has expanded rapidly over the last decade, with significant number of new homes being delivered in both the town and the neighbouring parish of Ansford (which includes Castle Cary railway station).

This level of housing growth has rendered the existing parish boundaries out of date – with part of the boundary going through the centre of a residential property.

A governance review is now under way, with residents of both parishes having until December 8 to give their views on whether a new joint parish council should be created.

Castle Cary currently has 1,883 people on the electoral register, compared to 1,174 in Ansford.

If the two parishes were to merge, the new 'Ansford and Castle Cary Parish Council' would have 11 parish councillors (with the final name being agreed as part of the formal consultation).

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: "The aim of the review is to ensure that parish governance arrangements reflect the identities and interests of the local community – and that they are effective, convenient, and promote community cohesion.

"The review will consider: creating, merging, altering, or abolishing parishes; the naming and styling of any new parish or parishes; electoral arrangements, including the number of councillors, warding, and election years; and grouping or de-grouping parishes under a common parish council."

Steven Lake, the council's electoral services manager, stated in September that the review was an opportunity to re-examine arcane and obsolete parish boundaries.

He told the council's constitution and governance committee: "The one boundary between the two parishes which is difficult runs from 57 to 64 Churchfield Drive, Venus Cottage and Step A Side, both on Ansford Road.

"There is at least one property where the parish boundary goes through it.

"Councillor Henry Hobhouse [one of the Castle Cary division members] said he hates going down there canvassing, because it's difficult to know which parish you're in at any particular point."

To take part in the consultation, visit www.somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/democratic-services/community-governance-review-ansford-and-castle-car/ by December 8.

More formal proposals expected to come back to the constitution and governance committee in February 2026, with a further round of public consultation expected to be held in relating to these in March and April 2026.

These refined proposals will go to the full council for final approval later in the year, allowing the new boundaries to be implemented in time for the local elections in May 2027.

These local elections will be the first held under the revised Somerset Council division boundaries, with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) expected to publish its final proposals on December 2.