Two staunch supporters of the Liberal-Democrats on Kerrier council have torn up their membership cards in disgust and have joined the independents.

Mrs Lisa Dolley, who has been a businesswoman in Redruth for more than 20 years - running a launderette with her husband - said the decision for Cornwall to have a unitary authority was to blame.

The decision was wrong, she said, and she blamed the Lib-Dems at County Hall for pushing through the "One Cornwall" bid without any thought for the electorate.

Another Kerrier councillor, Mrs Zoe Hall, who has also resigned as a Lib-Dem member and moved in with the independents, said she had taken the decision privately and had asked the independents to accept her as one of them.

Mrs Dolley and Mrs Hall made their decisions following last week's go-ahead by the government to allow Cornwall to disband its district councils and set up a single unitary authority by 2009.

It had been a move forged by the Liberal-Democrat members of the county council against the wishes of many opposition councillors and allegedly the majority of Cornwall's residents.

"I have resigned my membership. I am disgusted," said Mrs Dolley.

She said she had not been told the implications of a unitary authority when she stood for the Liberal-Democrats in the local elections in May.

"I had no idea what it would really mean. I think the county council Lib-Dems have completely ignored the majority of people in Cornwall. Many people are unhappy about this and as a result I have quit the party and been accepted by the independents. I walked out of a group meeting I was so disgusted," she added.

"I cannot understand how the Lib-Dems at the county council came to this decision against the majority of Cornwall. They are supposed to be a democratic party."

Mrs Hall, who runs Beaver Blinds in Cross Street, Camborne, told the Packet: "I have decided I can no longer continue to represent the people of Camborne South as a Liberal Democrat when the decision by the party to support unitary status is so far from what the Cornish people want. I completely disagree with this decision and feel it would be grossly hypocritical of me to remain with the Liberal Democrats any longer.

"I feel that the decision by the county council has been one of arrogance and they have failed to take into consideration the views of the Cornish electorate and the many officers and staff at the various councils. This has been a difficult decision for me so soon after my election, but one that I feel is right for the people in my ward. I will continue to serve my community as an independent councillor on both town and district councils."

The news of the switch of allegiance by the two councillors follows the announcement that the leader of Kerrier council, Rex Sadler, has given up the job for health reasons.

He has handed over the leadership to Graeme Hicks, of Redruth, with the position of deputy going to Mike Clayton from Wendron. His departure has no connection to the unitary authority decision and was taken before the announcement by the government last week. Mr Hicks, in his first interview since taking over as leader, was also critical of the Lib-Dems on the county council for pushing through plans for a unitary authority without proper consultation.

"I have to stress that I am appalled that the Liberal Democrats at County Hall and the so-called listening Labour government have decided to impose a unitary authority on Cornwall," he said.

"The Liberal Democrat administration have foolishly ignored the will of the people and instead embarked on a path which puts their own selfish party interests before the people they purport to serve. Two years ago at the last county council elections the most arrogant and dictatorial administration in the history of Cornwall county council took control. We have seen in the past few years a once proud and respected county council brought to rack and ruin.

"The recent decision by this discredited bunch at County Hall was a bridge too far for many ordinary Lib Dem members and that is reflected in the recent defections.

"The pigeons have finally come home to roost and hence the discredited Liberal Democrat Party is in complete and utter turmoil. I will never forgive those so-called democrats for what they have done to Cornwall. I would encourage as many Lib Dem councillors as possible, throughout the whole of Cornwall, in the interest of the Cornish people, to leave the discredited Liberal Democrat party forthwith," said Mr Hicks, who is also a county councillor.

"We need to restore proper democrat control in the Duchy and we have a duty to the people of Cornwall to ensure that the current people who hold the reigns of power at County Hall are not returned to the new authority next spring. I believe that the Cornish people will inflict the final blow to the Liberal Democrats at the next local elections. God works in mysterious ways."

A statement issued by Kerrier council on Monday made no mention of the unitary authority plans. It simply said: "Sadly, Councillor Sadler has resigned from his position as leader of the council having been a member since 1995 and leader since May 3 2000. Councillor Sadler will still continue as a member of the council.

"Councillor Hicks has been appointed as leader of the council. Councillor Kaczmarek was appointed to fill the vacancy left on cabinet as a result of councillor Sadler's resignation. The leader has appointed Councillor Clayton as deputy leader. The leader has confirmed that there will be no reallocation of portfolios save for Councillor Kaczmarek taking over the environment portfolio. The leader will not have responsibility for a portfolio."

Mrs Dooley and Mrs Hall are not the first Kerrier district councillors to switch parties following election in May. Stithians member Neil Plummer was elected as an independent then raised the flag for Meybon Kernow and is now listed as an MK member of the authority.