DISTRICT councils have launched an attack on Government proposals to create a single authority spanning North Yorkshire by asking residents what style of local government they want.

The move follows a joint statement by the six of the county's seven district councils, which claimed no one who would be directly affected by the changes had been consulted.

The Government wants to merge Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby district councils into a single authority, in what has been described as the biggest local authority shake-up in the county in 34 years.

But the move has been condemned by most of the district councils, which believe a unitary authority in the county would have a detrimental effect on services.

A survey by Ipsos MORI yesterday started to gather opinions about the merger of 2,000 county residents.

The survey will be conducted by phone and at random to produce an impartial sample, and will be followed by a questionnaire involving all parishes in the county.

Peter Simpson, chief executive of Hambleton District Council, said: "The very people that will be affected by this change - and whose opinion is ultimately crucial - are not on the list of consultees. We are addressing that imbalance.

"People will be asked impartial questions so we can get a true picture of what they think of these plans."

The merger has been vehemently opposed by district councils, whose bosses say they feel the creation of a giant unitary authority will be impersonal and have serious cost implications for the area.

District councils have also said the proposals will "take the local out of local government", by creating a detached system which is too big to deal with local issues.

Local Government Minister Phil Woolas announced last month that North Yorkshire County Council's bid for a single unitary authority was to go ahead for further consideration, to create a more streamlined and accountable council system.