BUSINESS leaders fighting for a separate unitary council serving west Suffolk have launched a petition to lobby the Government.

Laurence Cawley

BUSINESS leaders fighting for a separate unitary council serving west Suffolk have launched a petition to lobby the Government.

The Boundary Committee has recommended axing Suffolk County Council and all district and borough councils in the county and replacing it with either a unitary for “rural” Suffolk and a separate authority for Ipswich and Felixstowe or a giant one Suffolk alternative.

Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce, which wants a separate West Suffolk unitary authority, has launched an online petition calling for the Boundary Committee to reopen its considerations and look afresh at a West-East Suffolk alternative.

In her letter to businesses, chamber manager Ruth Brady said: “Businesses in Bury feel strongly that there should be three unitary councils in Suffolk, each focused on their own unique areas (West Suffolk, East Suffolk and the greater Ipswich area).

“The chamber officially supports this view and Chrissy Harrod, executive member of Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce, has set up a Downing Street e-petition to encourage the Government to listen to local people - the Boundary Committee has refused to consider the business case for three unitaries and is only consulting on two options (North haven and a 'rural' Suffolk, with Lowestoft in Norfolk, and giant 'one Suffolk' alternative).

“St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath and Waveney councils know there is a lot of support among our local communities for three unitaries, listening to the needs of local people and empowering them to take part in decisions about their own local services.

“We are campaigning to get the Government to tell the Boundary Committee they should at least consider our case and not simply ignore the views of local people throughout Suffolk.”