RULED by Blackpool or dominated by East Lancashire?

That's the question people in St Annes and Lytham are to be asked later this year as preparations begin for the biggest local government shake-up in decades.

Fylde Council is set to be abolished, and will be replaced either with a Lancashire mega-council, the biggest in the country serving more than one million voters, or a 'City of the Fylde' covering the existing Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool boroughs.

But local voters voices could be lost in a referendum which will feature more than one million voters. The counties of Cumbria and Lancashire will be voting en masse for 'Option A,' including the larger Lancashire Council, and Option B, including the City of the Fylde.

Voters in Wyre have less of a choice, with Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys and Poulton set to merge with Blackpool whatever the result of the referendum.

Lancashire Police Authority has joined Blackpool Council in backing Option A. Baroness Ruth Henig, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority said: "Any amendments to boundaries of the current Lancashire must make sense in terms of policing and community safety.

"We remain opposed to the loss of any areas which are currently policed by the Lancashire Constabulary, as we think the force needs to be maintained at its current size at least."

Voters in Carlisle, Burnley and Skelmersdale will get a say on the future of Blackpool Council - but resort residents will not. The Government has confirmed that Blackpool, which is already a unitary authority, will not have a vote on the future shape of local government, despite lobbying from resort politicians of all parties.

The shake-up will only take place if the region votes in favour of setting up a regional assembly - though national newspaper reports last week suggested that the Government may decide to impose changes even if the assembly is rejected.

What do you think of the local government shake-up? Write to Citizen Letters, 13/13a Clifton Street, Blackpool, FY1 1JD.