A DELEGATION from Salisbury District Council travelled to London in a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Government to reject a unitary authority for Wiltshire.

Council leader, Paul Sample, deputy leader, Steve Fear, council chairman, Bobbie Chettleburgh, Cabinet member, Paul Clegg, and Mark Wareham from Unison, met with Local Government Minister, Phil Woolas and voiced their objections to Wiltshire County Council's bid to become a unitary authority.

Afterwards, Mr Sample said they had put a "strong and coherent case" and Mr Woolas had "cross-examined us in a fair and friendly way."

Mr Sample added he felt the minister had an open mind at this stage.

The delegation also delivered a joint letter from Salisbury, Kennet and West Wiltshire district councils, all of which oppose a unitary authority for the whole of Wiltshire and told the minister North Wiltshire District Council had now withdrawn its support, uniting all four of the county's district authorities.

A short while after the delegation visited London, Swindon Borough Council announced it is not supporting the county council's bid. Public consultation on the bid ended last Friday and the government is expected to make an announcement in July as to which bids have been successful.