SEVERAL roads in Teignmouth are expected to become part of another council area under the new controversial Local Government Reorganisation.

Cliff Road, Alta Vista and Woodland Avenue properties are in the parish of Dawlish which, under the Government’s new local authority structure, will become part of Exeter Council.

However, the rest of Teignmouth will be joining the Torbay Council area.

The reorganisation announcement sweeps away the current system of local authorities in Devon and replaces it with four giant unitary councils.

This means Teignbridge Council will no longer exist after 2028.

Current Teignmouth town, district and county councillor Lib Dem David Cox described the decision as a dog’s dinner’.

He said: ‘It’s total chaos and the poorest people will be worse off.

‘People will be asked to pay more and get worse services.

‘This reorganisation will cost a lot of money and no one wanted it, no one asked for this.

‘It could have been handled so much better.’

For residents it Exminster however, the decision to join with Exeter may be more appropriate.

County Councillor Alan Connett said: ‘It is the case the residents in the parishes and communities which make up Exminster and Haldon division look to Exeter for their services, shopping and hospitals, rather than Newton Abbot or Torbay.’

But he said: ‘This is though a dreadful waste of money. recall the Government said that any proposals could not carve up existing council areas - and yet that’s exactly what it has done with these proposals.

‘The reorganisation will cost millions - that’s money which could be spent on important services and fixing our roads.

'Those, I believe, are the priorities that local people would want their money spent on.’

Town, district and county councillor for Dawlish Lib Dem Rosie Dawson said she was not convinced Dawlish parish will be better off as part of Exeter.

She said: ‘We have our own identity, history and strong community and this needs to be not only recognised but empowered to flourish.

‘I feel this decision to carve up Devon is detrimental to service delivery for vulnerable people too and I hope the new Prime Minister may take his seat and reconsider.

‘Devolving power needs to be about the people and not be handed out by Westminster.’

Cllr Sally Morgan, Lib Dem, represents Bovey Tracey which will become part of the new Devon Coast and Countryside Council.

She said: ‘I’m disappointed but not surprised.

‘They have chosen the worst option available.

‘The new council will be expensive to administer and it’s a huge area, it’s already being called the Devon Rump.

‘It’s got the bulk of Devon’s roads.

‘This reorganisation is a waste of money which could have been better spent on public services.

‘We are having this imposed on us.’

Cllr Stuart Rogers, Conservative, who represents Ashburton and Buckfastleigh which will also be in the Devon Coast and Countryside Council, said: ‘I don’t agree with it and there are too many unanswered questions.

‘I will be using my democratic right to ask questions.

‘The most vulnerable people are being forgotten through this transition.’

Newton Abbot county councillor, Reform UK Jaqueline Fry said she was ‘very, very concerned’.

She said: ‘It’s ridiculous the way they have split us up and I don’t see it is fair.

‘I do worry about the small rural villages who will be very much worse off financially.’

Kingsteignton county and district councillor Lib Dem Dave Rollason said: ‘It’s not my choice and not what we hoped for.

‘But it won’t be Torbay Council taking over it will be a new entity completely.

‘There will be an enormous upheaval, there are huge unknowns and it is a gamble how much it will save.

‘It is natural to be territorial but Teignbridge leadership has done a good job so far and are on top of it.

‘I have concerns about the transition, it’s going to be a mammoth task but we have to make the best of it.’