The creation of a unitary authority covering the Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council areas has become more likely following the Government's decision to review the structure of local Government in Suffolk and Norfolk.

If England's boroughs and counties are wiped off the map and replaced with sub-regional hybrids, it will weaken local identities and create a vacuum in which unelected Quangos suck up power.

There is very little evidence to suggest that services within our area would improve and the process of reorganisation would have a serious impact on the wider quality of life enjoyed by Waveney residents.

A unitary authority will require a new budget structure, the redistribution of assets and property, the relocation and redeployment of staff and the possible renegotiation of existing contracts. All this pen pushing will distract our councils from what they are elected to do - representing the interests of the people of Waveney and Suffolk.

The creation of a unitary Yartoft would result in a duplication of effort and create an unnecessary tier of bureaucracy. It is the people of Waveney who would ultimately suffer.

Sign our petition

We the undersigned oppose the creation of a "Yartoft" unitary authority covering the Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council areas.