After more than half a century, Waverley Borough Council is to be axed as Surrey is carved in two.

On Tuesday, the Government confirmed plans to dissolve the district and merge it into a new authority, stretching from Haslemere to Staines.

The move will see Surrey split into two new super-councils — West Surrey and East Surrey — in one of the biggest changes to local government in decades.

Under the new structure, Waverley will join Guildford, Woking, Spelthorne, and Surrey Heath in West Surrey, while Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge will form East Surrey.

The Government also announced a £500 million bailout to stabilise Woking’s debt-ridden finances ahead of the transition.

Civic leaders in Farnham and Waverley, who had been pushing for the county to be split into three authorities, reacted with anger and disappointment at the decision.

Cllr Catherine Powell, Farnham Residents Group leader on the county council, said she was frustrated that the Government in Westminster has decided to go with the two unitary option.

“This places all the debt in the new West Surrey Unitary, along with the areas of highest need, setting the new authority up to be in an extremely difficult financial position from day one.

“This two unitary option that was most balanced according to Surrey County Council’s own analysis, which had Spelthorne with its high levels of borrowing and need in the East, but the Government have selected the option that includes it in the West.

She warned of “hard times and hard decisions ahead”.

“The question is how much will anyone be able to influence it, “ she added.

“Will decisions be made only by the current administrations, will decisions be made by unelected officers? Time will tell.”

Waverley’s Lib-Dem leader Cllr Paul Follows also said he was “very disappointed”.

“As angry as I was at the Conservatives at SCC for pushing this through, I am perhaps even more angry and disappointed at the Government for their deeply short-sighted decision to allow it,” he added.

“But my duty is to make sure this works for residents and local government employees, and I will make it my personal mission to make the best of this for the people of Waverley and West Surrey.”

Waverley Conservatives, however, welcomed the Government’s announcement.

Cllr Jane Austin said the new authority would “deliver better services at a lower cost for the residents of West and East Surrey”.

“We believe in delivering better value for money, greater efficiency, and stronger local control over how taxpayers’ money is spent.

“It is encouraging to see the Government’s commitment to write off £500 million of Woking’s debt as a first tranche of payment support, recognising that this challenge cannot be managed locally.

“We believe more will need to be done by the Government to ensure the financial stability of the new unitary.”

The reorganisation will come into effect in 2026, with shadow authorities expected to form next year to oversee the transition. Elections for the new unitary councils are due to take place in May 2026, when residents will vote for the first time under the new West and East Surrey authorities.

Existing borough and district councillors will continue to serve until that election, after which their councils will be formally dissolved. Local town and parish councils will remain unchanged and continue to operate as usual.

Waverley Borough Council was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, bringing together the former Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere urban districts and Hambledon Rural District.