A PETITION has been started to keep tax rises to two per cent a year under any new ‘super-councils’ created in Dorset.

It also calls for every area to have its own parish, town or community council.

The petition, at change.org, was started by Poole Liberal Democrat councillor Vikki Slade, who opposed the Future Dorset plans to reorganise local government.

Local government secretary Sajid Javis had said he is ‘minded’ to approve the plans, which would involve sweeping away the current councils. They would be replaced by a new authority covering Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, and another for the rest of the county.

Cllr Slade’s petition says: “If the secretary of state approves the creation of two new councils in Dorset, we call on him to make sure that council tax rises are kept within the current two per cent limit. We also want to see parish, town or community councils for all communities so decisions are made locally.”

She said current projections suggested Poole and Bournemouth residents faced rises of up to six per cent a year for five years.

The petition had 370 supporters as of Monday evening, December 4.

Mr Javid is due to make a final decision on the Future Dorset plans in January. In the meantime, Christchurch council is balloting its residents on the issue.