A SPECIAL residents' meeting will be held to discuss the prospect of the impending council merger.

Christchurch Citizens Association are organising a meeting for Monday, January 9 at Druitt Hall in Christchurch.

While they don't normally hold a meeting in January, chairman Sue Bungey said the issue of council reorganisation is too important for residents not to discuss.

At a recent full council meeting Christchurch members gave a mandate to the leader that no change was their preferred option.

Members voted 11-9 in favour of the motion, which also recommended exploring options for the Dorset Combined Authority to take on Adult Social Care for the county.

Christchurch councillors will be present at the meeting to update residents on the latest situation.

The ‘super council’ consultation found 54 per cent of Christchurch residents opposed the town’s merger with Bournemouth and Poole, although among respondents to the household survey 63 per cent were in favour of the two-council options.

Chairman of the CCA Mrs Bungey said: "A full list of names of how councillors voted on this motion will be given to residents at the meeting.

"Christchurch Citizens Association are therefore holding this special meeting with residents to ask their councillors why their wishes are not being taken forward to the leaders of Dorset councils for a final decision on January 31.

"Normally Christchurch Citizens Association do not meet in January but it is felt that because of the enormous impact a merger with Bournemouth and Poole will have on the residents of Christchurch that this special meeting has been called.

"We hope that as many residents as possible will come and ask questions of their elected councillors who attend."

However, Dorset county councillors are being urged to exclude Christchurch from a new Dorset unitary authority.

A report seen by the Daily Echo says that due to "the weight of public opinion" and "financial and other analytical evidence", two unitary councils should be formed from the existing nine authorities, with Christchurch included with Bournemouth and Poole.

The meeting will start at 7.30pm.