Hundreds back calls to scrap plans to split Gloucestershire council
The Government unveiled plans last month to shake-up local government across England
Hundreds of people have backed a campaign to save Gloucestershire from being split into two councils. The Government unveiled plans last month to shake-up local government across England.
Ministers say the English Devolution White Paper aims to give more powers to local government.
But it also proposes creating more unitary councils which, in Gloucestershire, would mean district councils would be merged with the County Council.
Gloucestershire is currently a two-tier area where local government responsibilities are split between the County Council and district councils. Shire Hall leaders want a unitary council for the whole of Gloucestershire but five of the county’s seven MPs signed a joint letter earlier this month outlining their vision for the county to be split into east and west.
The three Labour and two Liberal Democrats propose the creation of two unitary authorities.
They suggest West Gloucestershire would combine the district councils in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Stroud. While an East Gloucestershire authority would include Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds.
However, this move is opposed by Tewkesbury’s Lib Dem MP Cameron Thomas and Conservative North Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.
And now a petition has been set up by Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lib Dem leader Richard Stanley, who believes splitting the county would be disastrous, calls on the Government and the county’s local authorities to reject the idea.
Instead, the petition calls for more investment on improving existing services and in creating strong parish, town and city councils to ensure that Gloucestershire remains a unified county that continues to serve the needs of all its residents.
Cllr Stanley has set out 12 reasons why the split should be opposed which include its impact on the county’s identity, economy, environmental stewardship, the disruption to local services, cost to the taxpayer and the lack of a democratic mandate to do so.
“Our county is rich in history, culture, and shared values, and it is our belief that splitting Gloucestershire would undermine our collective strength, identity, and future,” he said in the petition.
“We stand together to ensure that Gloucestershire remains united, with a single voice to represent our communities, businesses, and future generations.”