IN my recent public question to Dorset County Council, I said about the savings that could be me from a unitary authorities.

Ernst & Young, a professional services firm, projects Leicester shire savings at £31.4m per ann-um; Shropshire £20m; Wiltshire £14m; Durham £22m and North-umberland £28m.

Three-tiered local government would be gone and duplication of councillors, staff and offices reduced. However, we can’t just assume the government will decide on unitary authorities.

I’d welcome positive, leading, proactive steps from Dorset County Council to actively inves-tigate whether to go for unitary for Dorset.

For example lobbying govern-ment and MPs; undertaking public-debate throughout Dorset and identifying how the unitary way can cost-save and serve Dorset customers better, as in Wiltshire.

With the greatest respect, do we not perhaps have a duty to urgently investigate?

Dorset County Council advice and any timetable for investigation would be welcomed.

I had already received a response from Cllr Robert Gould as leader of West Dorset District Council, confirming WDDC would be taking no active steps to investigate the unitary option for West Dorset.

Many believe that with severe central government funding cuts to local authorities the unitary option will have to happen.

By moving in the opposite direction now, by actually strengthening the middle-tier of government (gone in unitary authorities), it will cost us all more later.

The people of Dorset have a right to know how it could or will affect us.

JOHN GRANTHAM
Middle Street
Burton Bradstock