DORSET residents could end up paying £800,000 for two elections within two years.

Campaigning for the county council election in May is now under way, despite plans to dissolve the authority.

If the local government reorganisation (LGR) proposal to combine the county and five of six district councils into one new unitary is approved by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid, a further election could take place as soon as next year.

The county council has said it sought to avoid the extra £800,000 cost of holding two elections close together, but the government has insisted this is necessary.

Also, some have suggested that, ironically, the 'purdah' period for the election may delay any decision by the minister on LGR.

Council leader Robert Gould said the authority has taken "specialist legal advice" on whether the election might be delayed.

"There was cross-party support, it would make sense to extend the life of the council and have elections potentially to a new authority in 2019," he said.

"Because of the decision making timetable the government didn't want to appear to have pre-determined the issue and so we have to stick with the current timetable."

The authority's chief executive, Debbie Ward, urged county residents to register to vote and also to stand.

"These elections are a vital opportunity for local people to exercise their democratic right and make their voices heard," she said.

"We encourage people from all walks of life to stand as a county councillor. We’re looking for people who feel passionately about the issues that affect residents and are able to put the time and effort into representing their local community."

There was speculation that an announcement by the minister that he was 'minded to approve' LGR might have been made on Thursday last week (MAR 23).

This would have been to avoid the purdah period for the election, but whether intended or not the terrorist attack on Parliament the previous day altered the ministerial schedule.

Purdah, which prevents councils discussing major new policies in the run up to an election (but not individual councillors), began on Monday.

Anyone interested in standing in the election by apply by Tuesday next week, and the list will be published the following day. The last day for registering to vote is Thursday, April 13.