TWO district councillors in north Suffolk have urged residents to oppose a merger between Waveney and the neighbouring authority of Great Yarmouth.Southwold councillors Sue Allen and Simon Tobin are hoping that people living in the town and surrounding area will help them fight the Government's proposed plans to alter the political boundaries.

TWO district councillors in north Suffolk have urged residents to oppose a merger between Waveney and the neighbouring authority of Great Yarmouth.

Southwold councillors Sue Allen and Simon Tobin are hoping that people living in the town and surrounding area will help them fight the Government's proposed plans to alter the political boundaries. The Yartoft option would see a new unitary authority made up of Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

"We are totally appalled with the thought of Yartoft and at the Government's interference in requesting the Boundary Commission to look into re-aligning Suffolk's council boundaries," said Mrs Allen.

Mr Tobin added: "Southwold and Reydon are in Suffolk, they are an important part of the Suffolk heritage coast and the Suffolk coasts and heaths."

The councillors say they will work with the Conservatives on Waveney District Council and with MP John Gummer to fight any Yartoft proposal.

They are also encouraging residents to join RAY, Residents Against Yartoft, which will be appearing soon on the Waveney District Council website as an online petition.

Mrs Allen added: "The Local Government Minister, John Healey, is quoted as saying that any plan will have to have community support. To campaign against Yartoft we hope we can count on the people we represent to give us their support."

Suffolk County Council and the seven district authorities all face abolition after the Boundary Committee was given the go-ahead to revamp the structure.

Mr Healey has made it clear all options are on the table, but said if there is a unitary authority in the county it is likely to be based on a Greater Ipswich, Suffolk rural and Waveney-Yarmouth all-purpose councils.