In a recent letter headed “City status benefits to public uncertain”, Mr Graham Burns, of Newport, questions the motives of Telford & Wrekin Council in proceeding towards getting city status.

This suggests a lack of communication and understanding between Telford & Wrekin Council and its electors.

Both Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire County Council are contained within the geographic county of Shropshire and it is therefore of the utmost importance that all of us who reside within the county of Shropshire should be clear as to what our elected representatives in both authorities are seeking to do on our behalf.

I have supported both Telford & Wrekin Council in its progress towards city status and Shropshire County Council in its move towards becoming a unitary council.

Having said that, I believe that it is of the utmost importance that they make clear to their electors (and here I support Mr Burns) their objectives both for their individual authorities and, even more importantly, their agreed strategic objectives for the whole of the county of Shropshire.

This is where the Shropshire Star can render an immensely important service to the county by inviting both authorities to join together in stating their agreed strategic objectives for the county as a whole.

Such a statement does not need to be held back until the county council’s move towards unitary status has been finalised.

I do hope that the editor will agree to offer this facility to the two councils and if successful adequate notice of the publication date is given to the readers.

John Roberts, County Councillor Shrewsbury