If the Labour government gets what it wants with the local government reorganisation, we will see this part of the New Forest, (Totton & the Waterside) merged into a new super authority with Southampton, Eastleigh and part of Test Valley.

At present the new authority that will replace Hampshire County Council and the District & Borough authorities is being referred to as the “South West Hampshire Authority”. However, this is likely to change if only because it is neither the most southerly or westerly of the new authorities.

It’s interesting to see Labour politicians in the City insisting that the new Authority must have the word “Southampton” in the title.

I am declining to comment in response to requests about what name I think it should be. Suffice to say, the New Forest district area will never be part of a Greater Southampton. I do however accept that there will be a need for a name that is considered acceptable, unlike the suggestion of naming it after the four main rivers, Solent, Hamble, Itchen and Test, (which sums up what a lot of us think about this all being imposed upon us).

The main point is that the current Councillors (myself included) should not be making these decisions. It will be near top of the agenda for the Councillors who are elected next May for seats on the new authority.