The mayors of two towns in South East Cornwall say their residents feel 'stitched up' after being partnered together in the new Community Network Areas (CNAs) being introduced by the county's new unitary authority.

Torpoint and Saltash both say they feel let down by the new One Cornwall council after their calls to be made two individual network areas were ignored and they were instead paired together.

Mayor for Saltash Derek Holley said: 'It is a typical deal, disregarding the needs of this end of the county. Both towns deserve a better deal and I am disappointed for Saltash and Torpoint.

'Historically, socially and economically, Saltash and Torpoint are totally different in their needs and we will have to create a mock pretence that we are one area.'

Torpoint town mayor John Crago said: 'I would have preferred it to have been a Torpoint and the Rame peninsula standalone, but we couldn't have that. We had to be partnered with someone and this is the lesser of two evils, so now we will just have to work together.'

Mr Holley added: 'We feel like we have been stitched up, but we will do our best to make it work. Torpoint's needs are totally different to ours and they deserve their own CNA, like us.

He said he thought the reasons for the pairing were financial, adding: 'It is so they can save money, but it is a nonsense – we have been given a bad deal by One Cornwall.'

The decision was made following a meeting of One Cornwall's implementation executive earlier in the month. Time is now running out for both Saltash and Torpoint to appeal for the decision to be changed, as the recommendation has been sent to the Boundary Committee for England this week.

Malcolm Brown, spokesman for One Cornwall, said: 'I think the way that we tried to go about it is that CNAs have to be of a certain size, because if they are too small there are fears they won't have a big influence. South East Cornwall stands the best chance if towns and surrounding parishes work together.'

The new boundary areas being implemented under the new unitary authority have sparked much controversy and debate. In South East Cornwall the initial plans suggested that Saltash, Callington and Liskeard would form individual network areas and that Looe and Torpoint would join together, but there has been a rethink following heated talks.

Now there will be three CNAs instead of four at the south-eastern end of the county. Saltash has been partnered with Torpoint, while Looe and Liskeard have been put together and only Callington is remaining on its own. Villagers in Lanteglos, who were originally told they might have to join the St Blazey network, have got their way and will now join the Looe and Liskeard CNA instead.

Looe town councillor Edwina Hannaford said of One Cornwall's decision: 'I am really pleased that Looe will be partnered with Liskeard and I am glad they have listened. I believe this is the best outcome for Looe and the surrounding parishes.'

Lynda Small, town clerk at Callington, said of the decision to allow the town to form a standalone network area: 'Callington Town Council will be delighted, as we have a great amount of experience running our own selves in the town. We welcome the opportunity to continue to work with neighbouring parishes.'

The boundary committee will respond to the various responses that have been made with a final decision over the CNAs later in the year.