Court ruling on unitary councils

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council now faces huge legal costs

A High Court challenge to stop Shropshire getting a unitary council has been dismissed.

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council lost its judicial review against plans to scrap five district or borough councils for a single authority.

The council challenged the process on the grounds that the government did not have the power to undertake the review and that it was unfair and unbalanced.

But Mr Justice Underhill dismissed the challenge on Wednesday.

I can assure staff in all the councils, and the public, that we will now get on in earnest with planning a smooth transition to a unitary council County council leader Malcolm Pate

Shrewsbury and Atcham, along with Congleton Borough Council who jointly led the challenge, now face court costs of more than £400,000.

But the judge granted them permission to challenge his ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Leader of Shropshire County Council Malcolm Pate said he now hoped there would be a "smooth transition" to a unitary council.

'Costly distraction'

The county council, along with Oswestry Borough Council and South Shropshire District Council, supported the move to have one authority.

Mr Pate said: "I welcome Mr Justice Underhill's dismissal of all three grounds in the judicial review.

The new council will be responsible for environmental services

"What I don't welcome is the huge and costly distraction this unnecessary action has been.

"I can assure staff in all the councils, and the public, that we will now get on in earnest with planning a smooth transition to a unitary council."

A spokesman for Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council said a special cabinet meeting would take place on Wednesday where the judgement and council's response would be considered.

Shropshire is one of nine new areas which are now to be governed by a single unitary authority.

The new council is expected to be up and running by 2009.

The debate over the subject led to a communications officer leaving his job.

Paul Masterman e-mailed colleagues at Shropshire County Council advising them on how they could vote more than once in a BBC on-line poll.