THEY walked through the graveyard and into the Priory not to bury Christchurch but apparently to question the wisdom of joining in a merger with Bournemouth and Poole.

Around 250 residents turned out for a public meeting on the plans for a new conurbation-wide unitary council on Monday night.

And the setting of the magnificent 1000-year-old parish church could not have been more symbolic given the nature of the debate and what some believe is at stake.

Last week councillors voted to carry out a non binding referendum across the borough in the coming weeks to assess the mood of electors.

And council leader David Flagg has begun making overtures to Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council to explore the possibility of joining with them.

The Priory meeting was organised by the borough's joint residents' association and chair Sue Bungey told the assembled: "The decision we make will be forever.

"There's no going back. We have been assured the government will listen, so however you vote, please in fill your ballot papers.

"Only 289 people in Christchurch said they wanted to merge with Bournemouth and Poole in the public consultation.

"This referendum is a vote for democracy."

But former council leader Ray Nottage, one of the main architects of the Future Dorset proposal to create two new unitary authorities out of the current nine councils said the referendum was an irrelevance.

"The system of local government we now have is not fit for the modern digital age. You need services but not at any cost. That's why we need to change."

He accused Dorset County Council, which currently provides Christchurch with main services such as education, social care and highways, of failing to make enough efficiency.

And he dismissed concerns of a Bournemouth takeover as "project fear again."

Cllr Nottage added: "The current two tier system isn't working. Running an urban council is much more efficient than running a rural one. All I see is opportunity."

But Cllr Margaret Phipps said: "This proposed new authority will make all the decisions on absolutely everything in Christchurch. Whatever we do, there will be opportunities. You need to decide if you want to be part of a borderless city by the sea."

And Cllr Colin Bungey pointed out that Christchurch was efficient, debt-free and had £50m in assets.

"Bournemouth have had the surf reef, the Imax and the failed Bank of Bournemouth. Look what a mess they have made of the Iford roundabout."

Former chamber of trade, Peter Watson-Lee believed it would be great to "ride on the coat-tails of Bournemouth. Why are we so anti-Bournemouth?"

Cllr Claire Bath said the referendum would carry little weight with the government, set against the benefits of Future Dorset.

"This would be a brand new council working for the whole area. Is this all about councillors losing their jobs?"

Cllr David Jones pointed out the secretary of state wanted consent.

"If we say we don't want this and he sticks to his word, then we carry on as we are."

The ballot papers will be sent out at the beginning of December.