OPPONENTS of local government reorganisation in Christchurch and Poole have joined forces to call for the potential for new parish councils to be set-up ahead of the merger.

Cllrs David Jones and Vikki Slade will put forward a motion at next week’s meeting of the shadow authority calling on Bournemouth and Poole to carry out reviews in light of “the democratic deficit inherent” in the establishment of the new council.

It urges members to approve of the attitude shown in rural Dorset districts towards new town and parish councils “in accordance with the principle that the building blocks of the new Dorset should be the towns and parishes”.

Christchurch council has agreed to set up a town and community council ahead of next year’s merger of the three council and the motion asks for the shadow authority to “congratulate” it for the decision.

The motion, which will be put forward at the meeting on Wednesday (October 17), also calls for community governance reviews to be undertaken in Bournemouth and Poole and for the shadow executive “to negotiate favourably” with the emerging councils in terms of funding and the transfer of any facilities.