A pusb by some Lancashire MPs to abolish all 15 of the county’s councils has received a mixed response from the leaders of the authorities facing the axe.

Several Labour MPs have signed a letter to the government asking for a new simplified local authority structure for the county – telling ministers local leaders will never agree among themselves on such a 'vital' revamp.

Blueprints drawn up by Burnley and Brierfield MP Oliver Ryan would see one unitary authority for the six East Lancs districts, another for Blackpool, Lancaster, Wyre and Fylde and a third for Chorley, South Ribble, Preston and West Lancashire.

But Cllr Stephen Atkinson, Ribble Valley Council's Conservative leader, said: "This [would be] civic vandalism, creating ever more remote decision making – they are removing local democracy.

“Lancashire residents will remember who took their councils away in four years’ time – and my prediction is huge disruption, less responsive and remote services and millions wasted on reorganisation, while we are not concentrating on delivery.”

Cllr Matthew Brown, leader of Labour-run Preston City Council, suggested the move by MPs was premature – including their call for next year’s Lancashire County Council elections to be cancelled ahead of replacement local authorities being established in 2026.

He added: “We need to see what the final details will be when the new legislation is published.   At this early stage, an attempt should be made through [the] Lancashire Leaders [group] to try and achieve consensus, with support from the Local Government Association or other appropriate bodies around structure, numbers and size of councils if restructuring is taking place.

“I feel an imposition from central government – without a further and final attempt to get agreement on new structures – won’t be well received across the county. If agreement cannot be found there may be no choice, but councils should come up with their own proposals to government first,” Cllr Brown said.

The MPs’ call comes with an associated attempt to secure a Lancashire elected mayor.

But the leaders of the county council and Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool councils, stressed their belief that the agreement signed with the last Conservative government and since approved by the new Labour administration “is in the best interests of Lancashire”.

A spokesman for the trio added:  “We have also agreed with government that following the publication of the new English devolution bill white paper due before Christmas, we will explore all governance models that reflect the geography, the economy and the political landscape of Lancashire, working closely with local councils and other important stakeholders, ensuring that we remain in a strong position to receive further powers and funding in the future.”

BwD leader Cllr Phil Riley said “the sensible approach” was to concentrate on implementing the deal which has already been done “until we hear a firm direction of travel from the government with regards to local government reorganisation”.

Phillippa Williamson, County Hall Tory leader, added:  “The devolution deal received strong support during the public consultation and has been backed and endorsed by all three councils [involved], all four universities and by businesses across every sector of industry and our economy.”

Proposals for redrawing the council map have “no consensus” amongst local authority leaders. she added.

Elsewhere the Labour leaders of Chorley, Hyndburn and Rossendale councils and independent leaders of Burnley and Pendle councils are yet to comment.