Surrey County Council has voiced concerns about Government plans to transfer the responsibility for regional planning from one body to another.

The Government is abolishing the South East England Regional Assembly - the body that represents councils and communities in the region - in March 2010 and is consulting on the way forward.

Its proposals for reform - contained in the Sub-national Review of Economic Development and Regeneration - would see the powers of the Regional Assembly transferred to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

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The Government wants SEEDA to drive forward prosperity in the region, co-ordinating economic development and regeneration. Regional planning, housing and transport in the South East would become the responsibility of SEEDA.

The county council's Portfolio Holder for the Environment David Harmer said: "We are concerned about the complete loss of democratic accountability. This proposal will mean that the public will have no elected representative that they can go to when they are concerned about regional issues on planning, housing and transport. That is surely wrong.

"We firmly believe the continued success of Surrey's economy is vital to the less economically successful regions of England."

(CD/JM)