Services like rubbish collection could be run by one council

Last month North Yorkshire County Council backed the �13.5m plans to merge the area's eight authorities.

Now, opponents have said they predict it will cost �44m - �30m more.

Instead of district councils running some services and the county council controlling others, it would mean just one authority doing everything.

Represent people

District councils in North Yorkshire have spoken out against proposals to merge them into a single authority.

They say one council would be too big to represent people properly.

They also argue that the figures being put forward by county council leaders do not add up.

If the move went ahead, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Selby and Craven district councils, and Harrogate and Scarborough borough councils could join with the county council to make up one authority.

However, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has also said it could bid to run Selby's services.

'Wildly exaggerated'

Hambleton District Council leader Arthur Barker, spokesman for the seven district councils, said East Riding estimated it would cost �9.6m to take over the services run by Selby alone.

Mr Baker said: "The figures just do not add up - how can the set up costs of a new authority be just �3.9 million more than merging one - and one of the smallest of the North Yorkshire districts at that - with an already established unitary council?"

County council leaders said that over the next two months their figures would be scrutinised by government analysts and assessors.

A statement released by the council's leader and chief executive said: "We are confident that our calculations and forecasts of costs and savings will be supported.