ADAM Hobbs (Letters, January 14) needs to understand some facts relating to potential changes to the Dorset authorities currently under threat from unification.

His letter may be how he sees the issue from the perspective of an uninformed Bournemouth resident, but take a minute to understand how residents of Christchurch feel about these proposals.

The historic town of Christchurch has a rising population of over 48,000 residents. Although we have a high proportion of retired people, over 50 per cent of residents are economically active.

The town is extremely prosperous with virtually no debt, compared with Bournemouth currently reporting over £700million of debt. Prosperity in Christchurch comes from many areas, notably Bournemouth Airport and the many industries located on the airfield site, and elsewhere.

Compared with Bournemouth, crime figures are very low here, 0.2 per cent of 1,000 residents. Homelessness is a fraction of that in Bournemouth. Our education system is non-selective with schools scoring way above the national average, Twynham School, and others currently performing at over 70 per cent for GCSE A-C results.

So here are the reasons for our discontent: The council consists of 24 councillors of which 21 form the Conservative majority. It is the leader of the council, Ray Nottage, who is seeking a mandate to join Bournemouth in one large unitary authority. Not all, but most Conservatives councillors are in agreement with these changes.

Christopher Chope, Conservative MP, understands the iniquity of these proposals which are based partially on the report by ORS which reported residents in agreement with the proposal. They canvassed just over 200 residents of the 48,000 in the borough. Mr Chope should be congratulated for standing against this ridiculous situation.

Finally, isn’t it outrageous that residents are having to seek recourse to the Courts for both a Judicial Review and a Freedom of Information request to obtain information from our elected representatives, who appear hell-bent on driving a coach and horses through democratic traditions.

TOM LANE

Quay Road, Christchurch

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