'Don't break up Gloucestershire', says council leader

Proposals from MPs to split Gloucestershire into two council areas could "cause more confusion", according to councillors.

A government shake-up to merge district and county councils would see a unitary authority created in Gloucestershire.

But five of the county's seven MPs have instead called for Gloucestershire to be split into two - with one council in the east, and one in the west.

This could see key services managed in "different ways" in different parts of the county, according to Tewkesbury Borough Council's leader Richard Stanley.

"This council does not want to see the break-up of Gloucestershire," he added.

The proposal to split the county would see district councils in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Stroud combine to become West Gloucestershire. In the east of the county, councils in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds would merge.

The MPs backing this plan said one, bigger authority would "not best serve the people of Gloucestershire", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In a letter sent to the minister of state, the MPs said the split would "make sense for local people" and "ensure devolution's success".

But Gloucestershire County Council leaders want a unitary authority - an option that is backed by the county's remaining two MPs.

Tewkesbury Borough Council has now also voted to support one council.

Mr Stanley said: "By keeping the county as a whole, we'd see the creation of strong parish, town and city councils and the government has said we would see increased investment for improving existing services.

"Splitting the area in two could mean that different parts of Gloucestershire manage highways, health and social care, education, waste and recycling, and planning rules in different ways, which could cause more confusion among our hard-working residents – and they deserve better.

"Keeping Gloucestershire intact will ignite and see sustainable growth, delivering better outcomes for residents.''

Central government proposed the English Devolution White Paper in early December 2024 and a decision is expected to be announced soon which will see selected areas invited to join the government's Devolution Priority Programme.

This will determine the government's position on Gloucestershire and whether changes will take place in phase one or two of the local government reorganisation.

Phase one would see the first set of new unitary councils begin operation in April 2027 with phase two set for April 2028.

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