Wiltshire MPs call for action on Wessex mayoral authority proposal
Concerns over potential delays and lost investment
Wiltshire’s Liberal Democrat MPs are urging the Prime Minister to address delays in establishing the Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority, warning that continued postponement may prevent the county from accessing crucial investment, devolved powers, and economic opportunities.
MPs Sarah Gibson, Roz Savage, and Brian Mathew have expressed concerns that the county could miss out on millions of pounds in funding if the proposed authority is not given the same priority as similar entities across England.
Support for the Wessex proposal comes from Wiltshire Council, Dorset Council, Somerset Council, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, all of which are prepared to progress.
The MPs have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to ensure the South West is considered in the Government’s ongoing efforts to decentralise powers and funding from Westminster. They are also advocating for the implementation of Burnham’s pledge to achieve “good growth in every postcode”.
Sarah Gibson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham, stated: “For too long, the South West has been overshadowed and overlooked.
“The Wessex councils are united and ready to act. The Government must now give our region the same opportunity as other parts of the country to secure investment and shape its own future.
“If prosperity is to reach every postcode, rural postcodes must count too.”
A Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority could enhance regional autonomy over funding and strategic decisions related to transport, infrastructure, housing, skills, and economic growth. The Wessex Partnership estimates that such devolution could potentially increase economic output by £16 billion over 30 years, while attracting both public and private investment in sectors like defence, clean energy, digital technology, and life sciences.
Without a devolution agreement, the MPs fear Wiltshire will be disadvantaged relative to regions with more significant control over investments, public services, and locally generated revenue.
Roz Savage, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, commented: “Rural communities face serious challenges, but they are too often treated as an afterthought.
“Better transport, stronger infrastructure and more genuinely affordable homes would transform lives across the South West.
“We cannot afford to stand by and watch investment flow elsewhere while our communities continue to miss out.”
The MPs have warned that exclusion from a mayoral structure might prevent Wiltshire from accessing substantial investments crucial for improving public transport, supporting local businesses, delivering affordable homes, and creating new education, training, and employment opportunities.
Brian Mathew, the Liberal Democrat MP for Melksham and Devizes, added: “The South West cannot be left behind again.
“We need investment in our buses, railways, roads, skills and local businesses. These are not abstract policy questions; they affect whether people can get to work, whether businesses can grow and whether young people can build their futures here.
“The councils are ready. The Government must stop delaying and back Wessex before Wiltshire misses out.”
The MPs have requested the Government to clarify when formal talks with the Wessex Partnership will commence and to provide a specific timetable for establishing the proposed strategic authority.
In a joint statement, the MPs concluded: “The South West is ambitious, united and ready to move forward.
“Wiltshire must not miss out on millions of pounds of investment simply because the Government has failed to act.
“If the Prime Minister means what he says about delivering good growth in every postcode, Wessex must be included.”