District chiefs have said they will be taking “legal advice” after it was announced this morning their bid to legally challenge the government over super council plans has been rejected.

Today leader of Wycombe District Council (WDC), Katrina Wood, announced Wycombe, South Bucks and Chiltern district councils’ request for a judicial review over the set up of the new unitary authority has been declined by a judge.

The Tory chief said she felt optimistic about unitary plans as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government “is keen to find an amicable solution”, however fellow leaders have not been as positive.

Leader of CDC, Isobel Darby, and SBDC, Nick Naylor, issued a statement this afternoon saying they are “disappointed” by the decision and will be “taking legal advice in the first instance”.

The said: “This is obviously a disappointment and something that we will be taking legal advice on in the first instance.

“However, it remains our sole intention to do everything we can to ensure the new Buckinghamshire Council is something we can all be proud of and will be the very best for all our residents.”

In January, the districts leaders announced they would be taking legal action against the government amid concerns over the set up of the new council.

At the time the leaders criticised the government’s draft orders – legislation outlining the processes required to move to a unitary authority.

They slammed the “undemocratic” decision to appoint leader of Bucks County Council (BCC), Martin Tett, as the leader of the shadow executive – which is tasked with setting up the new authority.