A LAST gasp motion to explore a merger between Laverstock and Salisbury has been successfully passed by Wiltshire Council.

Supporters of an extension to the city boundary feared they might have missed a once in a generation chance to redraw the map — the last major change came in 1954 with the inclusion of Stratford-sub-Castle.

A group of four councillors working on boundary changes across Wiltshire did not even look at a merger between Salisbury City Council (SCC) and Laverstock and Ford Parish Council (LFPC) during their 18 month review.

But now they will be sent back to the drawing board after a motion by Mary Douglas (Con) and Richard Clewer (Con) was successfully voted through by full council on Tuesday.

Cllr Douglas said a comprehensive review was needed to address the "big issues" for the people in both parishes.

"To many of us, for Laverstock to be in a different parish is a complete anachronism," she said.

"Let's not miss this opportunity. A piecemeal approach is not enough. We need to look at the big picture."

In a heated debate Laverstock and Ford councillor Ian McLennan (Lab), also a member of the working group, described Salisbury City Council as being “nasty and vindictive”. He argued an overwhelming majority in the Laverstock were against a merger and residents paid to use services in the city.

He said: "Is [LFPC] a small entity? No, it is the 15th largest parish council in Wiltshire. It is like Corsham being subsumed by Chippenham. Would you even contemplate that? No, you wouldn't."

Former Lib Dem group leader Jon Hubbard, who represents Melksham, also ridiculed the proposals, poking fun at the suggestion LFPC should be paying for services in Salisbury.

He said: "I regularly go to Salisbury, I regularly use the services, does that mean I get a vote? Does Melksham need to become part of SCC? In fact people in Southampton regularly go shopping in Salisbury, does that mean Southampton now needs to be part of SCC? It just doesn't cut it."

It polarised political parties with Cllr Terry Chivers (Ind) accusing SCC of “empire building” while Cllr Chris Devine (Con) said the council should listen to localism.

Cllr John Walsh (Lab) accused his party coleague Cllr McLennan of trying to "out do King Canute", saying the residents of Laverstock need to share the financial burden of running the city.

He said: "[The working group] have nibbled at the edges and come up with some changes, most of which are uncontroversial and insignificant.

"I must congratulate Cllr McLennan on running a very successful campaign in holding back the tide of necessary progress."

Moments after members voted by 47 votes to 38 to re-look at the issue Cllr McLennan cried out that it was a "shambles of a decision".

The working group will now investigate a possibility of a merger and report back to full council when a final decision will be made.

A separate proposal on the future of 300 homes at Bishopdown Farm will be deferred until the working group reports on the merger.

After the meeting the leader of SCC Andrew Roberts criticised councillors from the city who voted against the proposal.

He said: "If [Wiltshire Council] want things to be maintained you need to have a resilient local body. There is no question Wiltshire Council will be pushing things down to [SCC] whether we like it or not. If we join together we can be stronger.

"I'm not a Conservative but they can to the defence of the city today, it was others I feel did not want the city to deliver."