MEMBERS of Wellington Town Council have expressed concerns that the town’s voice will be ‘diluted’ if Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) merges with West Somerset Council.

Councillors voted to oppose the proposal to create one single council by six votes to four.

Greg Dyke, town clerk, said: “The views that we have passed to TDBC include that members were opposed to the changes due to concerns that Wellington’s voice would be diluted within the larger new council.

“The process involved a lot of money being spent which could have been used for much needed infrastructure improvements in the town. The consultation is coming after TDBC had made the decision. This was felt to be in the wrong order.

“Wellington Town Council felt that the times of the roadshows planned restricted many members of the public from attending; and the location did not allow for a large attendance.”

Cllr Andrew Govier said: “It is a dreadful idea. West Somerset is too small to be sustainable. It is a government problem and it should be sorting it out.

“I am always happy to help people normally, but the decision has already been taken and only now is the consultation happening. It is really going to change local government and it should have been addressed in a proper strategic way.”

Cllr Ross Henley expressed concerns that the consultation process is isolating people who work and Cllr Thorne said that Wellington library was not a suitable location for the consultation as it would not be able to accommodate a lot of people.