COUNCILLORS in Ribble Valley are to hold a special meeting aimed at discussing controversial plans to merge the rural borough with other East Lancashire authorities under a proposed local government shake-up.

Residents across the North West will be asked in October whether they want municipal affairs to be run by a regional assembly.

If they say yes, district councils such as Ribble Valley could be merged with neighbouring councils into huge unitary authorities.

Councillors put forward proposals for an enhanced Ribble Valley Unitary Authority or Hyndburn merger to the Boundary Committee last August.

They believe an enhanced Ribble Valley authority taking in chunks of neighbouring boroughs will be popular with voters.

But the Boundary Committee wants to merge Ribble Valley and Hyndburn with Blackburn or create a massive unitary authority covering the whole of East Lancashire. Local authorities have until May to respond to the draft recommendations, after which the Boundary Committee will make final recommendations in time for October's referendum.

Ribble Valley Council leader Chris Holtom today said: "We made it clear to the Boundary Committee that we were opposed to changes to local government should a North West Regional Assembly get the go-ahead.

"We realised, however, that doing nothing was not an option and put forward two possible options for change.

"These were an enhanced Ribble Valley Unitary Authority and combined Ribble Valley and Hyndburn Unitary Authority.

"These options did not find favour with the Boundary Committee, which published three alternatives.

They are a Lancashire Unitary Authority, an East Lancashire Unitary Authority and a Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Unitary Authority.

"Along with the other councils in East Lancashire, we are not in favour of any of these options.

"We have made it clear to the Boundary Committee and other council leaders in Lancashire that Ribble Valley must not be broken up.

"The matter will be discussed at a special council meeting on Friday and members of the public are welcome to attend."

The meeting will be held in the Ribble Valley Council Chamber in Church Street, Clitheroe, on Friday, at 6pm.