Regional unitary authority backed

Plans for a unitary authority covering the east of Suffolk have been put forward by councillors opposed to a county-wide authority.

The Boundary Committee suggested a Norfolk-wide authority encompassing Lowestoft and a pan-Suffolk authority.

Waveney District Council, covering Lowestoft, said an East Suffolk authority would better serve residents.

The council said a protest against the county-wide plans would be held in Lowestoft town centre on Monday.

A decision on the creation of the new authorities will be made by the government in February.

'A distant authority'

Mark Bee, leader of Waveney District Council, said: "We have been asked to consider what is right for Waveney and if we must follow a unitary path.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the best option is a council big enough to be heard, but small enough to remain locally accountable, delivering services our way, to residents."

"If the Boundary Committee gets its way, hundreds of thousands of people in distinctive communities from Southwold to Newmarket will see everything from their bin collections and car parks to their buses and sports centres run by a distant authority with no sense of place and Waveney District Council will not stand idly by."