THE leader of East Dorset District Council will write to the government with concerns over 'super-council' plans, writes Abiga

Councillor Spencer Flower, who had backed proposals to unite the council with five other authorities, is to pen a letter to the Secretary of State after councillors rejected the plans.

In January, the district council was the first of the county's nine authorities to vote against the scheme.

Since then, councillors in Purbeck and Christchurch have also voted against the recommendation.

Cllr Flower said: "Members opted not to support the submission that has been made to the Secretary of State but we ask that he gives our view full consideration when making the decision as to whether or not to support the proposal for two unitary councils in Dorset."

Cllr Flower said: “We have made very significant progress in partnership with Christchurch Borough Council and have been in the forefront of innovative ways responding to austerity.

"We have no aversion to change but members must consider it to be one which would best serve the people of East Dorset.”

Dorset's three upper tier councils, Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole, are supporting the proposed two new unitary councils, along with North Dorset, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland councils.