THIS is the third unitary authority bid that I have experienced. I would like to ask what amount of money has been wasted preparing these bids?

I have been told by Durham County Council, on numerous occasions, when I've asked for improvements to footpaths, that it has no money. How much has it allocated to preparing its County Unitary Authority submission?

I consider that local government should be kept local. A Durham county-wide unitary authority, serving nearly 500,000 people, would be too remote, although I agree that there should be efficiency savings leading to lower council taxes.

If we transfer to a countywide single authority within two years, there will be too many gaps and confusion.

Councillor Ben Ord, Sedgefield council Lib Dem Group Leader.

CRITICISING the Durham district councils for "wasting money" on a referendum, as MPs Kevan Jones and Roberta Blackman-Woods have (Echo, May 16) is pure poppycock and quite frankly pathetic. Giving local people a true say in the future of their services, and how they are provided, is a key part of the democratic process.

The Department of Communities and Local Government encourages local councils to consult with their residents, and advises that a referendum is a legitimate means for achieving this. After all, the costs per voter amount to the cost of a packet of crisps. What price do our local MPs put on democracy?

The countywide referendum is not a campaign. It is fully compliant with the Local Government Code of Conduct on Publicity. Electoral Reform Services, which is the independent body handling the referendum, has scrutinised the information provided to voters to make sure it is understandable, balanced and fair.

The district councils are united in wanting to make sure that local people are consulted and insist that they have a right to be involved.

Finally, the districts invited the county council to participate in and share the costs of the referendum, but it refused. Local people must be allowed to have their say.

Councillor Fraser Reynolds, Leader, City of Durham Council.

"THE District Councils of County Durham agree that unitary local government would improve the quality of life in County Durham."

That was their stated view in January, but since their proposals were rejected for being unrealistic and unworkable, they are now campaigning to retain the two-tier system.

The districts have been vocal in their criticism of the single unitary council proposal under consideration, but have not uttered one word about how they would improve the two-tier system.

They have not said how they would match the considerable cost savings of £21m per year which could be achieved through unitary reorganisation.

They have not said how they would match the major investment in improved services, better representation and local decisionmaking, which this could afford.

They have not set out any proposals for how they would improve local democracy or the strategic leadership of our area, so that County Durham is not overlooked in a region dominated by big towns and cities.

And given that they are polling local people on whether they want to retain and improve two-tier or see a single unitary council for the area, how do they expect people to decide if they only present arguments against one option and say nothing about the other?

Local people deserve better than this and I encourage people to let the districts know what they think.

Councillor Albert Nugent, Leader, Durham County Council.

THE most disturbing aspect of the proposed imposition of a single unitary authority on County Durham must surely be the replacement of the seven democratically elected district councils by 14 or so undemocratic unelected "Action Area Partnerships".

These so-called partnerships would no doubt be made up of selected appointees - but selected by whom?

Most probably by the ruling party within the new council or even the Government. We have not been given any information at all about these "partnerships" which in reality would be little more than quangos paid for by the tax payers but accountable only to those who selected them.

All the people of County Durham have a right to be given much more detailed information and the opportunity to express their wishes by means of a democratic vote.

Why are we being denied this democratic right?

Would any of our local elected MPs care to enlighten us?

John Routledge, Witton Gilbert.