OPPONENTS of a council's £5m office move are delivering 20,000 leaflets asking residents to support a referendum on the issue.

Liberal Democrats on Richmondshire District Council, in North Yorkshire, plan to distribute a pamphlet to every household in the district.

The party is fighting a decision to move council staff from offices in Richmond to a purpose-built headquarters in Colburn.

Party leaders say 700 residents have already responded to offer their support for a referendum.

The leaflet also names the councillors who voted for the move and those who voted against.

Councillor Stuart Parsons said: "We are letting people know exactly how their councillors voted.

"The decision was taken in public and none of the councillors should be ashamed.

"If a referendum takes place, and 51 per cent say they support the move, then we will say that's fine, because that's democracy."

In response, council leader Councillor Bill Glover said: "Councillors are elected to make decisions.

"This decision was a culmination of five years of debate.

"Just because the Lib Dems are not happy with the democratic decision taken by council, that's no reason to take a referendum, which would be very costly to the taxpayers of Richmondshire.

"If they wish to pursue this course of action, they may wish to pay for it themselves."

Lib Dems say residents can ask for the district council portion of their council tax to be placed in a holding account, pending an inquiry into the move.

However, council bosses say that would not be legal.

A letter, sent by financial unit manager John Sampson to residents who have requested this, states: "I can confirm that the council is bound by legislation to place all council tax receipts into an account known as the collection fund, with transfers and payments to and from this account being only in accordance with, and as stipulated by, legislation."

Councillors narrowly voted in favour of building the headquarters at Colburn Business Park last month.

The casting vote of the council chairman, Councillor Campbell Dawson, saw the motion passed by 18 Independent Coalition for Richmondshire councillors, defeating 17 Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and one independent.