More than half the number of residents in Cornwall think that a unitary council for Cornwall would be out of touch with the needs of local people.

In a survey commissioned by Cornwall county council, which plans to submit a bid for unitary status, 1,000 residents of the county were asked for their views on the current system of local government.

A total of 53 per cent said that a unitary council would be less in touch with people's needs than the current system of two councils and 91% of those surveyed said that they would have to have more information about proposals for a unitary council for Cornwall before making up their minds.

Speaking on behalf of Cornwall's district councils, Councillor Fred Greenslade, leader of Carrick district council, said: "The county council's own survey shows that local residents share the concerns that the district councils have already raised about this unitary bid.

"The aim of the Local Government White Paper is to bring democracy closer to home and give local people a greater say in how their services are run. Cornwall County Council's proposal is for a unitary council with just 82 councillors for the whole of Cornwall. That's an average of one councillor to every 7,000 residents, with the largest ward covering 40 square miles.

"It's difficult to see how this fits in with the government's wish to see more accountable councils and responsive services.

"It's also worrying that with set up costs of £20 million local people would actually be getting less democracy and representation for their council tax than they do now.

"All the people of Cornwall should have a say in this, not just current 82 county councillors who will be voting on proposals for 82 unitary councillors for the future."

Councillor Rex Sadler, leader of Kerrier district council, said: "It is no surprise to me that these figures were not highlighted in the county council press release last week. No one really needed the expense of a MORI poll to tell the people of Cornwall we will be under represented with only 82 elected members at this tier of local government. I feel the leadership of Cornwall county council have completely misjudged the feeling within the county."