CHRISTCHURCH residents are not being told the “whole story” about plans for a new super-council and should be sent independent information when they cast their votes on the issue.

The claim comes from former Bournemouth council leader Douglas Eyre, who says he is “very concerned” about the information going out along with the ballot papers in a non-binding referendum.

Christchurch is one of three councils to withhold its backing for the Future Dorset plans, which would see the current nine Dorset authorities swept away. Two powerful new councils would be created in their place – one for Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch and another for the rest of the county.

Mr Eyre chairs Uniting the Conurbation, a group which has been campaigning for local government reform.

He was among the 250 who turned out at a public meeting held at Christchurch Priory.

In a letter to Christchurch chief executive David McIntosh, he said: “Having read the proposed information document approved by the council to go out to the Christchurch residents, we are very concerned that this does not tell the whole story and that the residents need more information, not least on alternatives to the proposals or, indeed, the effect of remaining status quo.

“At the meeting, a woman in the audience made the point that, having heard the opposing comments of a number of Christchurch councillors to selected questions, she felt no better informed to cast her vote! She went on to ask whether an independently produced leaflet setting out the respective cases could be included with the ballot papers. This received considerable sympathy from the audience and this seems to be a very fair and proper suggestion.

“Our request to you now is that, if such a leaflet could be prepared, would the council please agree to include it within the ballot paper posting?

“As was pointed out on a number occasions at the meeting this is a very important decision for the residents of Christchurch. It is a fairly complex issue and we feel that, having chosen the path of a referendum, the council should set out the facts of the merger, from an independent perspective.”

Sajid Javid, the cabinet minister for the Department for Communities and Local Government, has said he is “minded” to approve the Dorset plans. But he wants the councils involved to work on securing local consent before his final decision in January.

Christchurch council said the voting forms would be going out with 'yes' information taken from the Future Dorset submission and a 'no' case by Christchurch councillors. It would not be possible to include more literature but other groups were free to produce campaign materials.