Shake-up will bring benefits

Understandably, there is much confusion over the issue of local government re-organisation. Indeed that is one of the reasons in support of unitary status. There is, however, considerable misinformation being put about, which is not helping.

Shropshire County Council is not in any way against people giving their views, but they should be given the facts fairly and squarely.

The letter included with the poll from Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council states that local government re-organisation in the 1990s cost £24 million, and each resident £82.

I am surprised it wasn't more, and it actually proves the point. That re-organisation created two "bureaucracies" out of one!

Whole new departments had to be set up. Very costly indeed. The current proposed re-organisation, on the other hand, is creating one "bureaucracy" out of six. It is also not true to say that Shrewsbury and Atcham residents will pay more for no more. Service levels will have to be equalised, as will council tax.

I have seen many letters in the press complaining about too many councillors and that they should be culled. This is exactly what a unitary council would do, but with the considerable savings made, services would be improved and council tax would be reduced to a maximum level for at least four years, at a level that I don't remember in Shropshire for years.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council