PEOPLE in Vale Royal now have the chance to comment on how they want their local government to be run.

The Boundary Committee published its draft recommendations this week - and is asking for the public to make its feelings known.

Three options have been put forward by the committee: a single unitary authority for Cheshire; two unitary authorities covering east and west Cheshire; three unitary authorities covering east and mid Cheshire and Chester and west Cheshire.

The report recommends Cheshire County Council's preferred option of a single unitary authority and Vale Royal Borough Council's favoured bid for three unitary authorities.

Commenting on the county council's bid, the report states: "A unitary authority of this size, based on the proven performance of the existing county council should have the capacity to deliver county and district services effectively and efficiently.

"The county council has demonstrated it has the means to positively engage communities at a local level, but we would welcome further details as to how the proposed 'area committee' system would work in practice, especially for the unparished areas of the county."

And in relation to the three unitary authorities bid, the report states: "We consider that the three unitary authority pattern offers a potentially robust pattern of unitary local government in Cheshire, particularly in terms of local representation and ability to engage with local communities.

"It would also, to a degree, reflect community identity and interests across the county and has the potential to build on existing partnership arrangements."

Consultations of the committee's recommendations will now run until February 23, 2004.

Comments can be made on line at www.boundarycommittee.org.uk or sent in writing to Local Government Review Team, Cheshire county review, The Boundary Committee for England, Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London, SW1P 2HW.

The final recommendations will be submitted to the Deputy Prime Ministers Office on May 25 and there will be a referendum on the changes after that, which will finally decide the matter.

A full copy of the committee's report is available on its website - www.lgce.gov.uk

jsawyer@guardiangrp.co.uk