THE draft shortlist of proposals for the biggest shake-up in regional government for 30 years was announced today.

Each of the three options put forward by the government's Boundary Committee would result in a major re-organisation of councils in East Lancashire.

The shortlist will be finalised in summer in time for a referendum later in the year. However, people will also be able to reject all of these options and stick with the present county council-based system.

Option one, known as Lancashire County Council, would see a county-wide unitary authority for Lancashire incorporating all councils -- replacing all borough councils and Lancashire County Council with one giant council.

Option two, an East Lancashire Council, would be a unitary authority, incorporating all existing borough councils and unitary authorities, and, in effect, replacing Lancashire County Council with East Lancashire and West Lancashire unitary councils

Option three would see the formation of a Blackburn and Ribble Council by merging Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley and a South East Lancashire Council, comprising Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. The third option is seen by the commission as the best option for the region.

Lancastrians will be asked if they want a regional assembly and, if so, which to choose an option for council reorganisation. A Boundary Commission report analyses each proposal. But the super-council spreading across Lancashire is not popular. It says: "We are concerned about the ability of such a large authority to effectively represent and engage with diverse local communities over such a large population and large geographical area."

The East Lancashire option would "reflect the broad community interests of this part of Lancashire, uniting areas with broadly similar demographic and socio-economic bases.

"We consider that such an authority would benefit from the inclusion of Blackburn with Darwen, which has experience in delivering the full-range of strategic services and has been rated as an 'excellent' performing authority."

However ,splitting East Lancashire into two unitary councils is a popular option. The report says it "could counter concerns over the size of a single East Lancashire Authority...this proposal would reflect communities in this area and would deliver services effectively to meet local needs."

Pamela Gordon, chairman of the Boundary Committee, said today: "We have highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of options and we are looking for more evidence to develop our final recommendations to the government.

"We can be sure the local authorities will give us their views but we will particularly welcome responses from other interests and local residents "