RETAINING SHREWSBURY AND ATCHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

That this House notes that the majority of Shrewsbury borough councillors, the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and, most importantly, the overwhelming majority of its residents wish to ensure that the proud and historic county town of Shropshire retains its own borough council, and that decisions affecting Shrewsbury continue to be made by local Shrewsbury councillors, who are elected by the people of Shrewsbury and therefore accountable to them; further notes that the result of the referendum which was secured by a coalition of Conservatives, Independents and one Liberal Democrat councillor, in which over 27,000 Shrewsbury residents voted, was overwhelmingly against a unitary authority; and wishes the hon. Member for Shrewsbury success in preventing his constituency from being stripped of its excellent borough council.