This proposal was also the joint second preference of Norfolk County Council.

The draft proposals for Norfolk include a single unitary authority for the whole of Norfolk, which would have the constituent parts (being the county of Norfolk and part of Waveney), as set out in table 6 of the report.

This would serve the population of 868,428 (2001 census), plus the population of Waveney.

Similarly, two unitary authorities in patterns A and B as illuminated in tables 8 and 9 respectively, are "to serve the same population (second largest in the UK after Birmingham) and geographically one of the largest counties in the country".

After careful consideration of the proposals mentioned above, it is clear that the focus of the boundary committee has been on the city of Norwich as a main consideration, rather than the whole of the county (plus Waveney), thus depriving and ignoring any other major town in becoming an additional generating force for the socio-economical development in the county.

It would be unfortunate for the vast majority of people living in other major towns such as Lynn (the second largest town after Norwich), and living in such areas presently known as West Norfolk, parts of Breckland and North Norfolk – embracing quite a few major towns and villages being deprived of the opportunity to flourish.

'IGNORED'

The population living in the above- mentioned (ignored) parts of Norfolk, see Lynn as a major economic and educational hub.

They pay taxes to local as well as central government and wish to have their empowerment base nearer to where they live.

Furthermore, people of these areas are the biggest stakeholders for consideration and are significant contributors to the local economy.

Hence what is needed by the boundary committee, as well as the Secretary for State for the Communities, is to provide the county of Norfolk (with or without Lowestoft), two separate unitary authorities for the western and eastern sectors of the county, thus allowing Lynn and Norwich to flourish, for the betterment of the people living in all areas of Norfolk.

I hope these comments and thoughts can be taken into consideration before the final decision is made.

M. Hameed Malik

(parish councillor),

North Wootton