Councils' aim for new authorities

The councils want three new unitary authorities in Suffolk

Leaders of three councils against a Suffolk-wide unitary authority have announced plans for three authorities.

Authorities covering East Suffolk, West Suffolk and North Haven (Ipswich and Felixstowe area) were mapped out in a proposal to the boundary committee.

Waveney, St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath councils have backed the plans to replace a scheme to add Lowestoft to Norfolk and create a Suffolk authority.

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

In a joint statement, Geoffrey Jaggard, leader of Forest Heath District Council, John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Mark Bee, leader of Waveney District Council, said they agreed with the development of North Haven.

Vital services

However they said they felt they wanted to improve on the boundary committee's proposal for the rest of Suffolk.

The statement said: "We know there is tremendous support for this concept among people across the whole county.

"We don't want big government trying to take over our towns and villages - that simply not the Suffolk way.

"Vital services such as schools, libraries, road maintenance and bin collections are at stake and we urge the boundary committee to consider our proposal which would keep us in touch with our local people while also being much more accountable to them."