DORCHESTER town councillors have said they need more information before they indicate their preferred form of local government reorganisation.

As reported in the Echo, a major public consultation on the future shape of local government in Dorset has been launched and residents, along with businesses and other stakeholders, are being asked to give their views on a range of options proposed by all nine Dorset councils to address the unprecedented financial pressure on local services across the county.

The public consultation, called Reshaping Your Councils, will run until Tuesday, October 25.

The public is being given a choice of two options. The first option is retaining all nine councils, (Bournemouth Borough Council, Christchurch Borough Council, Dorset County Council, East Dorset District Council, North Dorset District Council, Poole Borough Council, Purbeck Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council), and the second is to create two unitary councils for Dorset, with an further three options on how to divide these two councils.

In mid September it was revealed that less than half of one per cent of Dorset’s population had so far taken part in the consultation and Dorchester town councillors believe this could be because the options are "overcomplicated and confusing".

Adrian Stuart, Dorchester town clerk said: "There has not been a lot of thought gone into the roles of town and parish councils in the future."

Mr Stuart addressed the councillors with possible outcomes, both positive and negative. He said that there had been no thought to how town and parish councils might end up delivering services and that changes could threaten service delivery and effect funding to the area.

Cllr Alistair Chisholm said: "I think the idea of returning to the system we have is ludicrous. But it's all guess work at the moment. I find it difficult to find a view. There isn't enough information."

A recommendation was given to the town council that it instructed the town clerk to give feedback with a preferred option.

Councillors agreed to support changes involved in option two but are wanting further information before saying their preferred unitary council.

For more information or to complete the online questionnaire visit reshapingyourcouncils.uk