DORSET'S independent police and crime commissioner has waded into the council merger debate and says a single unitary council for the whole county should be considered.

Martyn Underhill says he is "very disappointed" that this option has been ruled out by council leaders and that it is not being put to the public.

And he has called for a referendum on the restructure as "the only democratic way to resolve this".

He said: "It's the biggest political decision in Dorset in a generation and people should have a say. A flawed consultation which will sample about one in 10 of the population is not good enough."

Mr Underhill points out he is the only politician elected to serve the whole of the county and says he is entitled to a say.

And he adds he is "surprised and disappointed" by the consultation process which is "a missed opportunity."

He said: "I'm concerned by the democratic process being adopted and indeed I challenge that process.

"I'm making these comments from a democratic point of view, not a political one.

"We have a police and fire and health system across Dorset. It's perfectly sensible to consider a single local authority."

This option would produce savings of £89m, he claims.

"I also dispute how council officers can describe the process as 'as neutral and impartial as possible'."

He said the consultation document was heavily skewed towards one option, the merger of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch and did not "properly inform the public."

The formal consultation starts across Dorset today.