Kennet District Council learnt on Wednesday 25^th July that the County Council's bid to become a unitary authority will go ahead; this will see the district council abolished. Staff and Councillors were shocked to hear the news which followed months of campaigning to Keep Kennet.

The Wiltshire unitary council, which will proceed subject to the enactment of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health (LGPIH) Bill, was opposed by all four district councils in the County

Councillor Lionel Grundy, Leader of the Council said: "This is disappointing news for the district councils in Wiltshire. In my view this is against all sensible reason as the indications from our research showed that a vast majority of people, not only in Kennet but across Wiltshire, were against the idea of a single unitary authority and preferred the two-tier local government arrangement".

"One of the criteria laid down by Government at the start of this process was that it had to be supported by a broad cross-section of the community.  This is patently not the case.  Not only is the community against it but it was originally opposed by three District Councils, and now by the fourth also, and by our three Members of Parliament". 

Mark Boden, Chief Executive of Kennet District Council added: "Yes we are saddened at the news, sad to be loosing such a good district council but we are also proud to have worked with such great colleagues past and present at Kennet in delivering excellent services to our residents. Obviously now the focus is on the future and we have already started planning how we can continue to deliver district services during the transition period".