RESIDENTS are to have their say on plans to create a new parish council for Eastleigh town centre.

Eastleigh town area is the only unparished area of Eastleigh borough and it has now been agreed to create a public consultation to consider the creation of a new parish.

The decision was made at a Eastleigh Borough Council administration committee that took place digitally.

Residents of the area will now have their chance to make their views on the subject heard and make a decision on whether they want the new parish council to be created.

Council leader Keith House said: "The Government wants to scrap borough and county councils and create massive councils of up to 700,000 people that could even be just one South Hampshire Council.

"We don’t want Eastleigh town’s voice to be lost.

"A local town council for Eastleigh town will be able to take decisions on local services for local people."

The consultation is planned to take place before the end of the year.

The last time a consultation such as this took place was in 2008, and resulted in parish councils being created in both Chandler's Ford and Allbrook.

Borough councillor and ex-chair of Chandler's Ford Parish Council, Margaret Atkinson said: "I am pleased it is going to consultation.

"I was very much involved with the creation of Chandler's Ford Parish Council, when it was parished so I'm very familiar with the issues because we had them all in Chandler's Ford.

"Originally i was against it but I ended up being chair for the first 8 years and I can see the benefits of having a parished area.

"However I do want there to be a proper consultation and I want residents to be sure that they get all the information that's needed for them to make a proper judgement and a proper decision."