SOMERSET'S five district councils have thrown down the gauntlet to the county council, calling for the authority to join them in committing to the findings of a county- wide referendum on its plans for unitary status. The districts have each pledged to "abide by the people's opinion" and drop their opposition to the county council's plans if the referendum comes out in favour of the unitary bid. However, the pledge is conditional and will only be acted on if the county council also promises to ditch its unitary bid if the referendum proves its proposals are unpopular with residents. But it seems unlikely the county council will fall into line after issuing a press statement slating the district councils' "harebrained stunts" and accusing them of wasting taxpayers' money on the poll. The district councils had tried to secure Somerset County Council's support for the referendum but, when that was not forthcoming, they decided to go it alone and conduct a countywide postal poll to gauge public opinion for themselves. Leader of West Somerset Council Cllr Keith Ross was among a delegation of district council leaders, chief executives and members who converged on County Hall in Taunton on Monday to deliver their pledge to the new leader of the county council Cllr Jill Shortland. She was not on hand to receive the letter in person - nor was she available to meet the infamous 'Judge Jeffries' who accompanied the delegation and is notorious for the part he played in the Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685. Cllr Ross said: "Judge Jeffries destroyed democracy for the people of Somerset. "With a poll, we are making sure that the people of Somerset can have their say on the future of their services. "We are willing to abide by the people's opinion and we hope that the county council will honour the wishes of local people too." While the county council claims its unitary proposals will cut down on bureaucracy and save money, the districts believe the creation of a single authority will create additional red tape and lead to higher Council Tax bills. Cllr Duncan McGinty, leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: "The county council may be holding back because they do not think the people of Somerset are interested in local government or can understand these complex issues, or perhaps because they fear the result. "Whatever the reason, I urge Cllr Shortland as the new leader to set aside these concerns and to join the district councils in what will be an important act of local transparency and democracy."