PLANS to create a single unitary authority for Somerset - getting rid of the current district and county council structure - has taken a step forward this week.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has short-listed the bid by Somerset County Council along with 15 other authorities.

It means there will now be a three-month consultation on the proposal before a final decision is made by the DCLG in July.

Welcoming the news Cllr Cathy Bakewell, Lib Dem leader of SCC, said: "The business case made by SCC demonstrated that a unitary system of Government for the county of Somerset will empower local decision making, deliver lower council tax increases and allow greater investment in frontline services.

"The validation of this view by government through Somerset making the shortlist for unitary status vindicates our efforts to pursue a model of government that provides the framework to deliver the services that Somerset residents want."

However, there is quite a lot of opposition to the proposals, with both Taunton Deane and West Somerset district councils against the plans, both the areas MPs and even the county council's Conservative councillors.

Christopher Wolverson, leader of the Conservative Group at SCC, said: "We now welcome the formal period of Government consultation on the Liberal Democrat's unyielding proposal to rule for a huge, remote, anonymous centre, destroying the hardworking, effective, district councils.

"Now is the time for all Somerset citizens to stand and be counted.

"Watch out for ways in which to say a resounding no to this ridiculous idea.

"One council may be suitable for a compact urban area but not for our large, widespread rural county of Somerset."

A poll carried out by YouGov last month across Somerset found 21% of respondents thought it was a good idea to create a large, single unitary authority for the whole of Somerset but 67% thought it was a bad idea.

Here is some reaction to the announcement: Cllr Joanna Lewin-Harris, leader of Taunton Deane Council, said: "The Government has made it clear that a huge unitary authority can only proceed if it has popular support.

"Taunton Deane Council does not believe these proposals have public support.

"In addition to the opinion poll recently conducted by YouGov, there have been no fewer than nine surveys of public opinion including several run by local newspapers and a number involving parish councillors.

"Not one of them has indicated support for the county council's plans.

"I am confident once the government realises this the county council's plans will not be fulfilled."

WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said: "If it's such a good idea, county officials won't have any qualms about asking the people in West Somerset what they think.

"If the county council refuses a referendum, it can't be serious about the people of West Somerset."

He criticised plans to set up boards, with appointed representatives, in place of local councils.

"They will be unelected, unaccountable cronies," he said.

"The set up would be akin to the Indian Raj governing the provinces from county hall in Taunton."

Speaking after publication of the results YouGov last week, Cllr Christine Lawrence, leader of West Somerset Council, which would disappear under the scheme said: "(The results) show quite clearly that the county council's plans are shockingly unpopular."

Taunton MP Jeremy Browne said: "I think Somerset is too big to be a unitary authority.

"We should certainly be looking at how to spend taxpayers' money more efficiently.

"My preference would be to maintain the existing structure but make it more effective.

"I hope the debate about council reorganisation will not deflect from the more important task of providing high quality services to people across Somerset.

Mark Formosa, Conservative spokesman for Taunton, said: Mark Formosa said: "This is a plan to rob local communities of power and drag the decision making process closer towards national, regional, and European government and should be resisted at all costs."