THE fight will continue to get the best result for Christchurch residents over the merger of councils in Dorset.

That was the vow made by the majority of councillors at an extraordinary meeting of Christchurch’s full council on Tuesday.

Impassioned speeches were heard from all sides, with a counter recommendation made by councillors in favour of merging.

A report issued before the meeting advised members there was ‘no arguable cause of legal action’ over the decision by the Secretary of State that merger of Dorset’s nine councils should go ahead.

It warned that incurring further costs on a legal challenge would seem “imprudent at best, irrational at worst.”

However, after two hours of discussion by members, they voted 14 to seven in favour of the amended recommendations put forward by leader, David Flagg.

They included noting the announcement of the Secretary of Stare and content of the legal opinion, with the leader and deputy leader meeting further with counsel to seek further clarification.

It was agreed that the council should continue to work as part of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole joint committee and the authority will support MP Sir Chris Chope as previously resolved.

So far the council has spent £5,000 from a £15,000 budget on legal counsel.

Speaking against the leader’s recommendation, Cllr Lisle Smith, said the council needed to get on with the job in hand.

She added: “Let’s stop challenging the process let’s stop being distracted and start addressing the needs of our residents for the future.

“Let’s engage and give our residents the future they deserve.”

Cllr Trevor Watts added: “The right thing to do is to embrace change and move with our brothers and sisters.

“We need to be building bridges and move on. This will be the saviour of the elderly.”

Cllr Denise Jones, an opponent of the merger said: “People of Christchurch said no and they said it loudly and emphatically.

“We have a tradition for standing up for what we believe is right.”

Cllr Margaret Phipps added: “We should not give in until we are forced to do so.”