COMMUNITIES fear they may end up paying more council tax if a proposal to merge local councils gets the green light.

Bridport Town Council has published options for the future governance of the area – including a preferred proposal for a merger of three parishes and the town council into a single council for the built area of the town, with an aim of improving local democracy and local services.

Dorset Council launched a review of parish boundaries last month, inviting town and parish councils to submit proposals for changes to electoral boundaries, numbers of councillors and other aspects of local governance.

Bridport Town Council's submission includes the merging of the existing parishes of Allington, Bothenhampton and Walditch, Bradpole, the Vearse Farm development and Bridport into a single council area.

Jim Basker, chairman of Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council, believes the parishes are 'under threat' from the 'rushed through' proposal. He claims residents in the area could have to pay up to £200 a year more council tax if they are put into a band with Bridport residents.

Mr Basker said: "Losing the parish council means local people will pay more for less. It could cost more than £200 a year more.

"In addition, villages will be in a very long queue competing for services that benefit the community and future generations, such as play areas and tree planting."

The parish council believes that local voices could be 'silenced' if the merger goes ahead. It believes Bridport town councillors would replace parish councillors and local issues would be pushed to the back of the queue and 'never addressed'.

Meanwhile, Sandy Goldsmith, Bradpole Parish Council clerk, said: "Bradpole parish councillors are currently reading and considering the options within the draft report issued by Bridport Town Council. The Bradpole PC CGR Working Party Group are also liaising with the other parish councils referred to in the document.

"No final decisions will be made without prior consultation with the residents of Bradpole Civil Parish.

"I encourage our residents to read all the relevant information on our website and to respond to the DC survey."

Bridport Town Council’s submission will be considered at a full council meeting on Tuesday, September 21. Key elements of the proposal include a single town council area incorporating the parishes, wards within the new council area based on local identity, the inclusion of the Vearse Farm development into the single council area and cutting the 44 councillors across the four councils down to 20.

Cllr Dave Rickard, leader of Bridport Town Council, said: “Since the existing town and parish councils were created in 1974, Bridport and three surrounding parishes have gradually coalesced into a single urban area, and now is the right time to consider whether it is right for them all to remain separately governed.

"Many of the services enjoyed by residents across the area are already provided by Bridport Town Council, but people living in some parts of the town such as Allington, Bothenhampton, and Bradpole, have no say in what is provided and are not asked to contribute to the cost of those services.

"Added to that, the creation of a new unitary Dorset Council and the difficulties that the parish councils face in attracting councillors to stand for election, make local government feel very distant from many residents."

He added: "The changes will build on the success of the town council as one of the larger councils in Dorset, resulting in locals being elected as ward members to represent their areas but with vastly improved in-house organisation and expertise, officers and staff to support problem-solving and projects."