TOPSHAM S county councillor Andrew Leadbetter has dubbed plans for a unitary council to run Devon as a high risk strategy. Mr Leadbetter, and a number of senior councillors from both the county and district councils, attended a meeting in London this mo

TOPSHAM'S county councillor Andrew Leadbetter has dubbed plans for a unitary council to run Devon as a 'high risk strategy.'

Mr Leadbetter, and a number of senior councillors from both the county and district councils, attended a meeting in London this month with local Government minister Rosie Winterton to urge her not to allow the unitary changes.

He said: "With the present economic situation...now is not the time to make any change in Devon at all."

It is understood the Government is still considering two options for Devon - a single unitary council for the whole of the county, as recommended by the Boundary Committee, and for Exeter to go it alone.

East Devon MP Hugo Swire said the plans were part of Labour's 'scorched earth policy' to force through controversial changes before an election defeat.