THE public has given “clear” and “emphatic” backing to plans to merge Dorset’s nine major councils into two, a consultation report has said.

But the report admitted the “singular exception” was Christchurch, where many residents voiced opposition to merging the borough with neighbouring Bournemouth and Poole.

The nine councils revealed the results of the consultation over plans to streamline Dorset’s local government.

There were 4,258 consultation forms returned of the 20,000 sent to selected households in Dorset. Another 12,542 people who did not receive postal surveys chose to fill out questionnaires online or on paper.

There was 73 per cent backing in the household survey for merging the nine councils into two, while in the ‘open’ questionnaire the idea attracted 68 per cent support.  The most popular option for change was to merge Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch into one council, with another council for the rest of Dorset.  In Christchurch, where MP Chris Chope has criticised the process, 54 per cent of the 1,446 who took part in the ‘open’ consultation opposed a reduction to two councils.  But in the household survey – which the report says is more representative because it went to a scientifically selected sample – there was 63 per cent support for the idea among the 459 respondents.

The report by Opinion Research Services said: “Overall, across both the quantitative and deliberative means of consultation, there was clear and even emphatic support for moving to two councils.  “The singular exception to that generalisation is Christchurch.” it added.

Matt Prosser – chief executive of North Dorset and West Dorset councils and Weymouth and Portland council – said there was a “chance of a lifetime to position Dorset for the future”.

The nine councils also released a report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the business case for change.

It said: “There is a compelling case for local government reorganisation in Dorset.

“Our analysis, as well as that carried out by local partnerships, shows that maintaining the current structure of local government in Dorset would inhibit the ability of its councils to continue to meet the needs of its residents, communities and businesses.

“The Dorset councils have bold ambitions, but the county needs a structure of local government that will help to achieve them.”  A series of full council meetings will take place in January and the authorities could then lobby government.

But Christchurch MP Chris Chope said there was no mandate for Christchurch to become part of Bournemouth and Poole, given the limited and split response to the consultation from the borough’s residents.

“I hope Christchurch councillors will realise that actually there is no support for this in Christchurch and will fight hard to ensure that the borough retains its independence,” he said.