The Government has made the decision. We can either stick our heads in the sand – or make it work for Wiltshire. We must make it work for Wiltshire.

This is raw democracy. The Labour Party decided to cut the number of County and District Councillors in a County where it has little support and little to lose. I always believed the Conservative Party’s national policy was the correct one – not to play ball. That is one reason why I supported the retention of our District Councils.

A far stronger reason for keeping our well-tried local government was that, although unitary authorities can work well for urban areas like Swindon, for very large rural areas they actually take power away from local people and reduce local representation and decision-making. But that is history. Just as the Labour Government has destroyed our local Army Regiment (The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment) they have now destroyed our County Council and District Councils.

Wiltshire has faced worse challenges! Hostilities should now cease. All County and District Councillors will be out of their jobs. A completely new Council will be created. All Political Parties will have to select new candidates for a new and different job. Then let the people decide.

I will work with our County and District Council to create a brand-new organisation to deliver better services to local people. I appeal to the people of Salisbury and our South Wiltshire communities to join me in focussing on the future.

The Government has also announced the abolition of the un-loved South West Regional Assembly. Its powers over planning, housing transport and training will be shared between the SW Regional Development Agency and the new unitary authority. The RDA is wholly appointed – so there is a massive democratic deficit.

To address this, the Government will set up nine new Regional Select Committees to scrutinise the delivery of Government policy to our regions. I will offer to serve on the new South West Regional Select Committee to ensure we at the far eastern end of the SW Region get our fair share of resources and proper delivery of government services.

No-one can ever diminish the history of our County of Wiltshire nor our part of the County as its natural senior partner – including Wilton that gave its name to Wiltshire! Greatness is about creating a bright future. I hope this latest shake-up will encourage our young people to join in building our future and will challenge all of us to participate in the democratic process, to consider standing for election – and, when the time comes, to get out there and vote for our future.