MOST Cheshire people questioned in a survey want to continue with their current system of local government.

In the face of a proposed shake-up of councils by the Government, almost 2,000 people across the county took part in the telephone survey commissioned by a number of councils and carried out by research company Ipsos MORI.

Of those questioned, 73% said they felt the current two-tier system - districts working with the county council - worked well for them and their family and 52% said improved two-tier working was their preferred option for the future.

Only 16% of those asked would want to see a single unitary authority for Cheshire and just 23% said they would support two unitary authorities for the county.

This option, which would create tow all-purpose councils covering the east and west of the county, is supported by Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council.

More than half of those inter-viewed felt local services and local democracy would be worse under unitary rule. They also didn't feel a unitary authority would listen more to their views.

Ipsos MORI said: 'When presented with various statements regarding the options and how they might affect service delivery, local democracy and resident engagement, the overpowering view is simply to get the current system to work better by having all councils work more closely together.'

Cllr Brian Silvester, leader of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, which was among those to commission the survey, said: 'As the proposals for a unitary structure will affect all residents in Cheshire, we believe that gauging the opinions of residents living in other boroughs was the right thing to do.

'It is just a shame that our counterparts at Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council were not prepared to ask their residents for their views and one wonders just whose views the leadership of that council are representing - certainly not the views of their electorate.

'The poll results show that residents want to 'keep it local' and not see the abolition of Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council.

'These poll results will now help us to influence the Secretary of State and show that local services should be delivered by local councils because that is what local people want.'