A FORMER council leader has urged the government not to let Poole become a part of a new super-authority unless the public backs the idea in a referendum.

Local government secretary Sajid Javid has already said he is “minded” to approve the plan for a new council to run Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

But the Future Dorset idea ran into trouble when 84 per cent of Christchurch voters taking part in a postal ballot rejected it.

Now Brian Clements, previously Liberal Democrat leader of the Borough of Poole, has written to Mr Javid urging him not to proceed with the “merger”.

He wrote: “As a former leader of Poole council, I am very aware of the strong feelings of many residents about the distinctiveness of Poole and their pride in its historic role as the principal commercial town in Dorset.

“You will doubtless be aware that a recent referendum in Christchurch showed 84 per cent of people voting against a proposed merger. If the residents of Poole had not been denied a referendum then I am sure they would have demonstrated a similar level of opposition. I urge you to insist that such a referendum takes place before you proceed any further.”

He added: “It is perfectly reasonable for the town to share services and officers with other authorities, as it does now, but that should be a matter for choice by our own elected representatives and not taken by a ‘super-council’ with a majority of members who are not sensitive to our town’s distinctive individual needs.”

Christchurch councillors have come out against the plan and have said they are prepared to take legal action to prevent it.

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope, a critic of the Future Dorset plan, agreed with the call for a Poole referendum.

“I think it would be a really good idea, although before they do this they need to have some proper information about the implications of this for their council tax,” he said.

“I am all in favour of transparency and democracy, and what better way of showing the views of local people than a local poll?”

A statement from Poole council leader Janet Walton stood by an earlier consultation conducted by Opinion Research Services (ORS).

Forms were sent to a sample of 20,000 households across the county, with the 4,258 returned showing 63 per cent backing the Future Dorset plan. An open survey filled in by 12,542 people found 55 per cent support.

Cllr Walton said: “Borough of Poole has full confidence in the results of the public consultation, conducted by ORS, who are amongst the most well-respected and experienced researchers in the country.”