内容摘要：He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

"We should be in a position to share more on the outlook for the 2025/26 year, early in January."While Mr Geraghty declined to be interviewed, three other senior Tories told the BBC why they supported a move to a unitary system.

"On the one hand, I'm really sad," said councillor Marcus Hart, deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council and leader of Wyre Forest District Council.A district councillor for almost 23 years, he said he had witnessed the great work the smaller authorities could accomplish."But frankly, if I was being candid, unitarisation is going to be the only show in town."

While such a move could see the end of hundreds of district councillors, Mr Hart dismissed the suggestion it would be akin to turkeys voting for Christmas."I think my biggest fear would be is, if, you know, a couple of districts in neighbouring Warwickshire wanted to pick off a couple of districts in Worcestershire," he said.

"I'm very keen to keep Worcestershire as a family."

Adam Kent, the council's cabinet member for economy and skills, said the current system hampered joined-up thinking on issues such as planning and economic growth.The organisation has earmarked £1m of funding to develop the proposals, which was awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Transport.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street, who is also chair of WMRE, said: “New rail infrastructure can be transformative for an area - offering residents sustainable and convenient access to rapid and reliable public transport.“That’s why it’s good news that local people will benefit from these stations very soon.”

WMRE said previously-mooted locations that did not make the shortlist could be reconsidered once theA council leader has said he is meeting government ministers today to ask "difficult questions" about what a devolution deal could mean.