THIS country faces at best a dismal future.

The Chancellor’s budget speech made it perfectly clear that with productivity falling and with a rapidly ageing population, living standards will be under tremendous pressure.

That may not unduly worry those with secure incomes, but for the vast majority the future looks pretty bleak.

It does not have to be like this. As a former Pope once said ‘there is enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for everyone's greed’.

Unfortunately the market economy, which has is merits, is driven by an insatiable urge for people to spend and get into debt.

Head in the sand seems to be the order of the day and nowhere is this better illustrated than by what seems to be the view of the ruling majority on Christchurch council.

Passions are roused, false hopes are generated – for what? That Christchurch can go it alone?

Rightly or wrongly Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch form one conurbation and it makes obvious sense that essential services such as planning, transport, infrastructure and housing should be dealt with by one democratically- elected authority.

I grew up in Blandford, which since 1605 had its own council. But in 1974 it accepted that it should became part of the newly-formed North Dorset District Council.

This country is not well served by refusing to face a changing world.

Christchurch councillors need to wake up to that central fact.

GORDON CANN

Craigmoor Avenue, Bournemouth