WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has warned that the agreed merger with Taunton Deane Borough Council “looks like something that has been done on a fag packet”.

And, he said, the Government will ultimately decide whether it goes ahead.

“Councillors can vote for what they want but the Government Minister Marcus Jones has made it clear that the Government wants three-way talks with Sedgemoor council,” he said.

“West Somerset councillors should realise that the Government controls the merger process, not them. I have already had talks with Ministers about the future on behalf of my 34,000 constituents.

“They are the ones who will have to pay for all this – and they have had no say in it.”

But the two council leaders, Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew and Cllr John Williams, said: “Our message to our communities is one of optimism and the strong belief that by merging our councils we can protect the services that people rely on.

“It’s local government that will change – not our people, not our values and not our determination to succeed.”

The historic decision was made at a special meeting last Wednesday when councillors voted by 21 to four to merge, in principle, with Taunton Deane council despite all receiving letters from Mr Liddell-Grainger urging them to delay the decision.

Taunton Deane voted for the merger in July.

The move is subject to Government approval because a new single authority covering both geographical areas would be created.