A LEADING Tory politician has called for a referendum on the future of local government in Cheshire.

The Government recently revealed it favoured a plan put forward by Chester City Council – backed by Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council – to carve up the county into two unitary authorities.

That would see this borough joining Chester in a new council called West Cheshire.

However, Cheshire County Council, which would be scrapped under the two-unitary scheme, is still strongly promoting its own blueprint for one unitary council to cover the whole of the county.

There have been calls from some quarters for Cheshire residents to be given a vote on the issue.

And this suggestion has now been backed by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, Tory MP for Tatton.

In a letter to Crewe & Nantwich Council he writes: ‘I fully understand the concern felt by many local people with the provisional decision by the Labour Government to abolish Cheshire County Council and the existing district councils and to replace them with two unitary authorities in east and west Cheshire.

‘My personal view all along has been that the existing two-tier system of local government, with our local district councils and our county council, serves local people well.

‘It brings decision making in important areas close to communities while at the same time providing a broader overview on issues like education. Indeed, I wanted to see the co-operation between the two tiers of local government improved.’

He adds: ‘As far as I could see, re-organisation would cost a large sum of money in return for uncertain savings in the future. It would also pre-occupy the councils involved at a time when they should be totally focussed on delivering services like waste collection, education and transport improvements.

‘Sadly, our advice as local MPs was ignored by the Labour Government, who have, however, said that before they give the final go-ahead for the two new unitary councils, they want further work done on the costs of the change.

‘We’ll know by the end of the year whether they decide to proceed with two unitary councils, or indeed change their mind and goes with one Cheshire-wide unitary.

‘Whatever decision the Government makes, I believe it should be subject to the approval of local people in a referendum.

‘There are plenty of recent precedents for this – for example, when the Government was considering its ill-fated plans for a North West Regional Assembly alongside unitary local councils. At the least in a democracy people should have a say in the political arrangements that govern them.’