A MERGER could be in the pipeline between Okehampton?s two local councils, following a meeting in the town last week. Okehampton Town Council has written to Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to discuss the possible merger, or a possible boundary change. The hamlets council, which covers outlying rural areas of the town, some of which are becoming increasingly urbanized by new development, will discuss the proposition at its next meeting. After that, there could be a meeting between all members of both councils. The town council agreed to write the letter at their last meeting, on Monday, September 3. Cllr Christine Marsh, who proposed the motion, said: ?The hamlets people are paying a lot less council tax than the town people and getting all the facilities of the town.? Cllr Charles Latchford agreed. He said: ?We need to address this ridiculous anomaly were two people living next door to each other are paying different rates. ?Perhaps we should just push out the boundaries to reflect the expansion of the town.? Any action to merge would have to happen with the consent of both councils, and would still require the approval of the Deputy Prime Minister. Boundary changes may be easier to arrange but are likely to be met with fierce opposition by hamlets councillors. The chairman of Okehampton Hamlets Council, Derek Webber, said he could not officially comment on the council?s view until the subject had been discussed at the next meeting. But he disagreed with the suggestion that hamlets residents benefited from the same level of amenities as those in Okehampton itself. He said: ?A lot of people in the outlying areas of Okehampton are not receiving anything like the benefits of street lighting or bus services or anything like that.? People paying the parish element of their council tax to Okehampton Town Council will pay £86.55 on a band D property in 2007/8, whereas those contributing to Okehampton Hamlets Council will pay £22.71 for a similar property.