THE debate about how local authorities will change in the future across Suffolk and Norfolk is continuing.The Boundary Committee for England has been asked by the Government to look at alternative proposals to the present system of two county councils and various city, district or borough councils.

THE debate about how local authorities will change in the future across Suffolk and Norfolk is continuing.

The Boundary Committee for England has been asked by the Government to look at alternative proposals to the present system of two county councils and various city, district or borough councils.

There are various proposals being put forward including a new unitary council being formed by merging Waveney District and Great Yarmouth Borough councils.

The so-called Yartoft option has divided opinion in both Suffolk and Norfolk and the proposal has sparked a lot of interest with supporters and opponents keen to make their points.

This week the electoral commission organised a meeting with representatives from Waveney and Great Yarmouth to discuss the proposal further.

One of the criticisms being made against forming a unitary authority from the existing Great Yarmouth and Waveney areas is that it would be too small and not be able to attract the investment needed to operate efficiently.

At the meeting, held in Great Yarmouth on Monday, a new proposal to expand the area was put forward as a way of overcoming that particular hurdle.

The idea of a new energy-based unitary authority would see a new council responsible for an area from Sizewell in Suffolk to Bacton in Norfolk.

Meanwhile, a competition to come up with a name for the proposed merger between Waveney and Great Yarmouth councils has come up with some interesting suggestions including Herringport, the New Dawn Coast, Greater Yarlow, Sunrisely, Eastwold and Broadsea.

They are among nearly 1,000 unusual and sometimes bizarre names which are part of a scheme to rebrand Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Supporters of Yartoft are now sifting through the names after they launched a competition to find a more suitable monicker for the possible new unitary authority.

Peter Jay, of Yarmouth's Hippodrome, and Brian Potter, of Potters Leisure Resort, in Hopton, set up the contest after they felt that a better name than Yartoft would give added impetus to their campaign to unify the two towns.

Both men have put up £500 each as the competition prize and they were so overwhelmed by the number of name suggestions that yesterday they had to put off naming the winner until next week.

Mr Jay said: “I have just been knocked out by the response to the competition and it shows how many people support the idea of just having one council for both areas.”

Other names sent in for the competition include Eastern Broadsands, the Anglian Rasthof, Oceans East and Yareness.

In July, the Boundary Committee is due to draw up its final shortlist of preferred council options.