One of the smallest community council's in Monmouthshire is bracing itself for a mighty fight with the county council after learning of draft plans to 'write it out of the history books'.

If the plans drafted by Monmouthshire County Council get the go ahead Gwehelog Fawr Community Council, between Usk and Raglan, would simply disappear.

All but one of the four councillors representing Gwehelog ward would be sent into oblivion – with the remaining individual being absorbed into Raglan Community Council.

"Not only will our distinctive, ancient settlement be axed at a stroke but local residents will face a hike in their council bills," council chair Simon Carbury warned at a meeting in Gwehelog on Monday. "There are no cost savings for anyone in this plan - and nothing to be gained. In fact it's a blow to local democracy".

None of the community councillors gets paid: they all give their services on a voluntary basis and have unique local knowledge and expertise.

Gwehelog Fawr also has one of the lowest precepts (local Council Tax surcharge) in Monmouthshire - and it was agreed at Monday's meeting to hold the precept at the same level (£13) for the third year running.

A council spokesman said, "Under the draft plans, drawn up in apparent contradiction of government pledges on localism, Monmouthshire would lose two complete councils and 20 per cent of all its community councillors. But hard pressed taxpayers will not save a single penny.

"It's a paper exercise - redrawing hundreds of local boundaries, sometimes in what appears to locals to be an entirely arbitrary way.'

While Monmouthshire may have been asked to reassess its electoral boundaries by the Welsh Assembly Government, the draft proposals appeared to be making changes for the sake of making changes, he added.

"Nowhere does the draft document explain where any advantage would be gained. The ward councillors have tremendous local knowledge so they can advise, for example, on local planning applications or highways issues when consulted by MCC.

"The council is also on the Rural Forum to advise on countryside matters.

"At the same time MCC is talking of getting rid of community councils it is also talking of transferring some of its responsibilities to community councillors. In other words there will be fewer councillors to take on more work. It doesn't make sense.

"We will not give up without a fight. We have our residents behind us.

"They don't want to pay more to be attached to another community council but with less representation."

The councillors will formally put their case at a review meeting on January 23