SPLITTING up Kent into separate "do-it-all" councils would lead to up to seven years of turmoil and wreck high quality services, the Conservative leader of Kent County Council has warned.

Cllr Paul Carter said council taxpayers would pay a heavy price if the county council was scrapped and insisted there was no compelling case for major upheaval. His comments came at a full council meeting on Thursday.

His offensive comes amid mounting concern that the Government is likely to open the door to wide-ranging reform later this year by inviting councils to put forward their own proposals for moving to unitary status.

To date, only Maidstone Council has publicly declared its ambition to form a unitary council, which would see it take on additional responsibility for all the services provided by the county, such as education and social services.

But in an outspoken attack, Cllr Carter said: "To have such a massive structural re-organisation and to split up Kent with the creation of unitary authorities would be an absolute travesty.

"One thing is certain - the excellent services we provide would not retain their excellent status. Restructuring would take seven years...to my mind that is not worth a candle."

He went on to claim that the Government’s idea of what has been dubbed by local government minister David Miliband as "double devolution" would not see new unitary councils with more power.

"His definition means more power to regional boards and unelected quangos, not more power for districts and counties."

The case for another round of re-organisation in Kent had not been proved. "My message to David Miliband is to trust local government and not take power away from us."

However, Cllr Mike Eddy, opposition Labour leader at KCC, said there was "potential" for reform in the county that could result in a shake-up that would benefit residents.