PEMBROKESHIRE County Council could disappear under new proposals to cut the number of local authorities in Wales.

A Welsh Government Green Paper consultation published today (March 20) plans to reduce the number of local councils in Wales to 10.

Under the proposals Pembrokeshire County Council would be merged with Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion into a region resembling the former Dyfed County Council.

None of the proposed new councils have names, but are numbered as follows:

1. Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd

2. Conwy and Denbighshire

3. Flintshire and Wrexham

4. Powys

5. Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Carmarthenshire

6. Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

7. Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Merthyr Tydfil

8. Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff

9. Newport and Caerphilly

10. Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, and Monmouthshire

The average population of each of these areas would be 311,000, with variation meaning the population in some urban-focused council would be higher, and lower in more rural-centred areas.

The proposals are still in their very early stages, with the aim being to create larger, stronger councils.

There are different options for how the new councils might be adopted, including voluntary mergers, a phased set of mergers with early adopters acting as a test for later councils, and a single comprehensive merger which could take place by 2022.

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services Alun Davies said:

“Wales needs strong, effective, empowered local authorities which can weather continued austerity and build local democratic structures fit for future generations.

“I do not believe that our local authorities, as currently constituted, can fully play this role; and I am not alone.

“Councils have been clear that services are wearing down to the point of collapse and there is a general acceptance that things cannot carry on as they are and a general acknowledgement that more money, even if it were available, would not solve the problem.

“I also know local government has made real efforts to change, adapt and invest for the future but I also understand that in the face of UK Government cuts, there are limited options to ensuring the future sustainability of local services.

“Unless we do something radical in response to these challenges we all recognise, the role of local government will increasingly be one of managed decline.

“The next step must be game-changing. I believe there are many in local government who understand this and I am committed to working with them to secure change.

“I have already announced proposals to increase participation and improve the democratic process for everyone in Wales, today I am launching a consultation on further re-invigorating the local government landscape.”

To have your say on the proposals visit the Welsh Government website.

Local AM Paul Davies expressed his frustration with the proposals.

He said: “I’m extremely disappointed that once again the Welsh Government is looking at centralising local authorities across Wales, particularly given that Pembrokeshire councillors of all parties have previously made it clear that they are against a merger with Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

"Any proposals to reform local government in Wales must be cost-effective and carry the will of the people that it represents and we’re still yet to see any evidence that the Welsh Government’s plans meet this criteria.

"Let’s not forget Pembrokeshire has an international reputation that has been established in its own right – and that local brand and identity must be protected.”

Shadow Local Government Secretary, Janet Finch-Saunders, expressed concern about the uncertainty the reform proposals could cause.

She said: “We now know that forced mergers are well and truly back on the agenda – despite pledges from the minister’s predecessor.

“He says the process will be voluntary but he’s already drawn up a hit list, and made it clear that he will use statutory frameworks to force it through if required.

“These are the third major proposals to reform local government in just a few years, and the uncertainty is doing nothing to help creaking frontline services.

“We also want to see a reduction in the cost of politics, yet it seems that the minister’s plans would include a bumper pay rise for councillors – something that will alarm taxpayers.

“What’s equally concerning is Labour’s record with major reorganisations of this kind.

“We heard lofty rhetoric ahead of Labour’s last NHS reorganisation, which led to huge deficits and unprecedented pressure on frontline staff.”