Langport could officially merge with one of its neighbouring parishes
The merge would happen by 2027 in order to ensure local services can be funded more fairly
Langport is surrounded on three sides by the parish of Huish Episcopi - with the latter parish having to accommodate the vast majority of housing growth that has come to the local area in recent years.
Despite its population staying relatively constant, Langport Town Council has had to raise its share of council tax bills to "improbably high levels" to fund services used by Huish Episcopi residents. The two parishes are now officially considering a merger to share the load of funding services more fairly - and the change could take effect from the local elections in May 2027.
Both Langport Town Council and Huish Episcopi Parish Council have already passed motions in favour of their two councils merging - with Somerset Council now starting a community governance review which could make the change a reality. Sean Dromgoole, chairman of Langport Town Council, formally raised the issue at a meeting of Somerset Council's constitution and governance committee held in Taunton on Monday afternoon (February 10).
He said: "Langport is surrounded by Huish Episcopi on three sides. When you remember that the fourth side is wetland, unsuitable for building, the problem becomes apparent.
"Langport has no scope for expansion in that it is fully developed. All Langport’s land has already been used.
"Huish Episcopi has nine times as much land, much of which is rapidly being developed. The population of Huish Episcopi has trebled since the 1970s, to over 2,600, whereas that of Langport has stayed flat at about 1,000.
"Almost everything that the Huish Episcopi and Langport community shares is in Langport - the shops, the markets, the doctors’ surgery, the pharmacist, the dental practices and the youth club. So while Huish Episcopi has expanded, and continues to expand, it is Langport that must continually expand its provisions with no expansion to its rateable base.
"As a result, to keep up with the ever-increasing demands caused by its neighbour’s expansion, Langport has had to raise its precept to improbably high levels. Langport’s precept is currently more than three times that of Huish Episcopi. The imbalance between the available precept resources of each council and the facilities they support presents an ever-growing problem - a problem that is best resolved by our becoming a single council for the whole area."
Councillor Julia Gadd, chair of Huish Episcopi Parish Council, said that the merger would reduce red tape involved in facilities which were jointly funded by the two existing councils.
She explained: "Huish Episcopi does support certain Langport-based activities, including the youth club, the recreation ground and the cricket club. Both councils have jointly administered Section 106 money from housing developments, and we have various sub-committees to resolve joint issues like parking and entertainment resources.
"We get through it, and the work gets done, but it is bizarrely elaborate compared to the simple solution of a single council for our one area. A single council would necessarily mean economies of scale in terms of administration resources and streamlined decision making."
Mrs Gadd said that the merger would help to drive forward a number of major projects for the wider Langport area in the coming years - including meeting future parking needs and restoring Langport Town Hall. She said: "It is worth doing now because we have significant issues arising in the short term in our joint area.
"We must find another 100 parking spaces. We are to become Somerset’s first rural transport hub. We are the nexus for two new active travel routes.
"In 2032 our listed town hall will have housed our town council for 300 years without a break, but it must be restored and improved if this terrific run is going to continue. Subject to conversion of an existing pilot scheme, we will be the jumping off point for an incredible new 5000-hectare wetland reserve to the west of us. These opportunities we can best resolve as a single council acting with one voice for our whole area."
The community governance review will involve at least one round of public consultation, but will not require a referendum to be approved.
Messrs. Dromgoole and Gadd said their preference (and that of their respective councils) was for the new authority to be called 'Huish Episcopi and Langport Town Council', which would have 11 elected members and hold its meeting in Langport Town Hall. Councillor Richard Wilkins (whose Curry Rivel and Langport division includes both settlements) said: "You’ve both spoken eloquently about the issues surrounding these parishes, and it’s quite clear that the only sensible solution is a merger.
"We should proceed with all haste - let’s get this done sooner rather than later." Councillor Mike Stanton (who represents the same division) concurred: "This is long overdue - there were plans for 15 years ago, but it didn’t go ahead because of a referendum. I commend both councils for getting their act together.
"To highlight the absurdity, when I was canvassing in the local elections, I visited a set of bungalows who informed me that if I stood in their front garden I was in Langport, and if I stood in their back garden I was in Huish Episcopi."