MR Coupe (Letters, December 23) reasonably asks what would be the benefits to Bury of a merger with Rossendale.

There are well-documented benefits for Rossendale which seem abundantly clear. For Bury, there are issues of economy of scale: it is cheaper because fixed costs are spread over a greater population.

Secondly, we are also more efficient already, hence the savings that could be made would be available to support services or the council tax level.

Finally, the higher grant per head available to Lancashire pupils would be able to be shared borough-wide. This is considerable.

There are advantages for everyone if only the Boundary Committee would give people the chance to vote on the proposition.

MARK SANDERS,

chief executive, Bury MBC.