HOTLY-DISPUTED plans to scrap Cheshire's existing councils and carve the county into two East and West 'super councils' have been put on hold while the Government carries out further research into the two competing bids.
A decision on the future of local government in Cheshire was expected last week, but Whitehall says it must continue to consider the 'unique' situation.
Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council leader Brian Silvester has slammed the whole process as 'shambolic', and called for the Government to drop its plans.
The local government minister John Healey announced on Wednesday that whole county unitaries will be introduced in Cornwall, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire, but that a decision on Cheshire had been delayed.
Cllr Silvester felt the Government's stalling weakened its case for two unitary councils for the East and West of Cheshire, the least popular option in a series of opinion polls and ballots.
He added that his council would continue to support Congleton Borough Council's legal appeal against the Government, towards which Crewe and Nantwich has donated £26,250.
A Cheshire County Council spokesman said: "There has been some advice from the Government that due to the complexity of this situation, they have delayed making any decision.