More than a third of Lilleshall voters have signed a petition against a controversial proposal to breakaway from Lilleshall and Donnington Parish Council.
A petition was signed by 333 residents in April, for Telford & Wrekin Council to undertake a Governance Review, which looks at the cost and legalities of setting up an independent Lilleshall Parish Council.
But last month five residents took to the streets in Lilleshall to inform people of what a breakaway would mean to the village.
Resident, Cedric Ayres, said he and four others collected 359 signatures from residents opposing the move.
The breakaway would mean Lilleshall would have its own parish council with at least nine councillors, which would have to be found, a new clerk, a venue to hold meetings and a limited budget.
At present, the village benefits from being part of Donnington, which has 5,855 council tax paying homes, compared with Lilleshall’s 546, to pay for services.
Mr Ayres said once residents realised a breakaway could mean a council tax hike or a cut in services, they were keen to keep the system as it is.
He said: “A significant number of electors feel that it’s unnecessary, and that we are well serviced by the council and we don’t see the advantage in the split away.
“If people wanted the same level of service from an independent Lilleshall parish council, the precept would have to go up quite significantly, or if you kept it the same, some of the services might have to stop”
Mr Ayres, who is also treasurer of the village memorial hall, added the current council give significant grants to the village. At last month’s meeting the council gave £500 to the youth centre and £250 for new village benches.
He added: “A number of people who signed for the governance review also signed against the break away, so that’s quite significant.
“They said they didn’t want to see any change and that they were quite satisfied with the service they were getting.”
Telford & Wrekin Council is now reviewing residents’ comments.
By Jason Lavan