A coat of arms which fell out of use 45 years ago following a reorganisation of local government could be resurrected for the newly formed West Suffolk Council.

East Anglian Daily Times: West Suffolk House in Bury St Edmunds will be the headquarters of the new West Suffolk Council.West Suffolk House in Bury St Edmunds will be the headquarters of the new West Suffolk Council. (Image: Archant)

St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council will merge to form the single authority in April ahead of elections in May.

At a shadow council meeting of the new authority tonight, councillors will consider whether to adopt the coat of arms for the former West Suffolk County Council, which was no longer used following the local government reorganisation in 1974.

This option, which would cost around £1,400, is recommended to councillors by the Future Governance Steering Group.

An option to adopt a new coat of arms would cost the council in the region of £17,000.

The adoption of a motto will also be discussed at the meeting.

The motto of the former West Suffolk County Council was an extract from the Magna Carta – “For King, Law and People”.

Some concern has been raised over whether this should state “For Crown, Law and People” or the Latin translation, which would originally have been in the Magna Carta.

The steering group has recommended further research is given to the issue before any decision is made on whether to adopt a motto.