Residents debate council merger

People living in Shropshire are being asked whether they want all six councils in the county to merge.

The government has appealed to councils to submit ideas for improving the way they are run in two-tier areas.

Over the past few weeks the six councils have discussed the proposal, and questionnaires are to be sent households over the next few weeks.

It is claimed that one authority would save taxpayers at least £36m in the first four years of operation.

In November, county, district and borough councillors provisionally agreed to merge all six authorities and now have until 25 January to submit a final answer to the government.