Calls for public to have say on council shake-up as 1,600 oppose splitting county in two

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

There are calls for the public to have their say on devolution in Gloucestershire as more than 1,600 back a petition against splitting the county in two.

The Government unveiled plans in December to shake-up local government across England.

Ministers say the English Devolution White Paper aims to give more powers to local governments.

But it also proposes creating more unitary councils of around 500,000 which, in Gloucestershire, would mean district councils would be merged together.

Gloucestershire is currently a two-tier area where local government responsibilities are split between the County Council and district councils.

Shire Hall leaders along with Tewkesbury Borough Council chiefs prefer the unitary council option for the whole of Gloucestershire but five of the county’s seven MPs signed a joint letter outlining their vision for the county to be split into east and west.

And Borough Council leader Richard Stanley, who is vehemently opposed to the idea, set up a petition to stop the break up of Gloucestershire.

More than 1,600 people have signed the petition which says splitting the county would “undermine our collective strength, identity, and future”.

Cllr Stanley says it is essential that the public has a chance to scrutinise local government reorganisation plans for the county and express their views on it.

“Over 1,600 people have signed the petition opposing the splitting of Gloucestershire, reflecting growing concern about the impact of this decision on the future of our area. Residents and

businesses want their voices heard on such an important issue,” Cllr Stanley said.

“Key services such as roads, transport, health and social care, education, fostering, and flood response operate within the current county boundaries.

“Splitting these services would be costly, complicated, and unnecessary, contradicting the Government’s aim for greater efficiency.

“Many across Gloucestershire feel left out of the discussion about our future. The idea of dividing the county into East and West makes no sense to local residents or businesses.

“The Government’s reorganisation proposals are the biggest change to our local democracy since the 1970s.

“While some reforms are needed, it’s crucial that the public is involved in shaping the future of Gloucestershire.

“It’s their services and council tax that will be affected. Politicians must get this right, and public input is vital for the best outcome.

“Exploring different ideas is reasonable, but no one has yet asked the public what they think should happen.

“Once the facts are gathered, they should be shared openly to allow for proper consultation.

“Once the public understands the costs and consequences of splitting the county, I believe they’re likely to prefer keeping Gloucestershire unified.

“But it’s essential that they have the chance to scrutinise proposals and express their views.

“Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared the petition to keep Gloucestershire united.”

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk