TWO former leaders of Bournemouth council have suggested Christchurch is wasting public money by holding a referendum on plans for a powerful new merged council.

Christchurch councillors have also been told they could end up with less sovereignty if they start talks with Hampshire County Council.

Christchurch councillors recently voted to go ahead with a local postal poll on plans to create a new authority combining the borough with Bournemouth and Poole.

Meanwhile, the council’s Conservative group has voted to explore whether the town could have a future as a borough under Hampshire.

Two former Bournemouth council leaders – Conservative David Trenchard and Liberal Democrat Douglas Eyre – are part of Uniting the Conurbation, which has spent several years arguing for a new council in South East Dorset.

In a letter to Christchurch mayor Cllr Nick Geary, Mr Trenchard said: “I really thought Christchurch Council had some respect for the poor old council tax payers – joining Hampshire with all their well-publicised problems pushes decision making as far away as Winchester.

“Christchurch would be an even smaller fry when measured against all the population and other communities in Hampshire. At least the current plan offers a steady reduction of council tax in real terms over a period and decision-making more directly influenced by Christchurch councillors and others who are extremely familiar with the local issues rather than people in Aldershot, Andover, Basingstoke, Portsmouth etc.”

He added: “Please do not waste any more of our money by calling for a referendum. The reported £60,000 for an amateur poll asking a question that offers no alternative solution has to be measured against the highly professional opinion taking exercise that has already taken place and been reported in full.”

Mr Eyre, who chairs the Uniting the Conurbation campaign, said: “In our view, the report on a proposed referendum on local government reorganisation proposals for the residents of Christchurch is very ill-judged and, in particular, the information proposed to be circulated on this very important issue for future of the town and our area, is inadequate at best but also misleading.

“It is also quite wrong for the Christchurch residents to be asked for their opinions on a question where the council appears to have absolutely no viable, costed alternative to the proposals which have been conditionally approved by the minister of state.”

Christchurch council leader David Flagg has said of the non-binding referendum: "It is such a major decision Christchurch residents should have the final say."