By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
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.”
The petition’s 12 reasons for opposing the division of Gloucestershire are set out below:
Unity and Identity : Gloucestershire is a county with a unique identity, spanning from the Cotswolds to the Forest of Dean, and from the Severn Vale to the Stroud Valleys. Dividing the county would fragment this shared sense of belonging and dilute our regional culture. It risks making local residents feel more isolated and disconnected from each other.
Economic Impact: Gloucestershire thrives as one county and benefits from an integrated economy, with key industries such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and education relying on regional cooperation. A division would disrupt this, potentially harming local businesses, reducing economic opportunities, and weakening our ability to attract investment.
Stronger Voice Together : As a united Gloucestershire, we have a stronger voice when advocating for policies that benefit our entire region. Breaking the county into two areas would reduce our influence on our neighbouring authorities and national government, making it harder to achieve meaningful change
Disruption of Public Services: Gloucestershire’s current council structure is already equipped to deliver essential services, such as education, health and social care and transport. Dividing the county would create unnecessary administrative hurdles, fragment services, and potentially lead to inefficiencies and increased costs. The real risk is that the quality of services to local residents could decline.
Environmental Stewardship : Our natural landscapes and environmental projects often span across county lines. A divided Gloucestershire would make it more challenging to preserve and protect our countryside, rivers, and wildlife corridors, undermining the efforts of many to protect this beautiful part of the world.
Impact on Children’s Services, Fostering, and Family Support: These important services rely on strong, integrated local systems. Dividing Gloucestershire into two councils risks disrupting the continuity of care for vulnerable children and families. The coordination between local authority departments, social services, schools, and health providers is crucial in ensuring that children and families receive the right support at the right time. Splitting these services would make it more difficult to ensure consistent, quality care and could create a postcode lottery for families in need.
Our Health and Social Care Services: Gloucestershire has a strong network of health and social care services that work collaboratively across the county, integrating care across hospital, community, and social services. Dividing the county could disrupt these relationships and cause fragmentation in the provision of essential health and care services. For vulnerable adults, elderly residents, and those with long-term health conditions, a split could mean a more disjointed, less efficient system, worse health outcomes and reduced access to critical care.
Inequality Between Areas : A split into two councils could exacerbate inequalities between our urban and rural areas and between some of our wealthiest and most economically deprived areas with differing levels of resource allocation, representation, and access to services. Rural areas, in particular, could be disadvantaged by a split, losing out on essential services and political influence in the new council arrangements.
Cost and Complexity of Transition: The process of dividing Gloucestershire into two unitary councils would incur significant administrative and financial costs. New infrastructure, systems, and governance structures would need to be created, leading to unnecessary expenditure. These funds could be better spent improving existing services and addressing local needs. The disruption caused by this process would place an additional burden on local taxpayers, diverting money away from essential services and potentially leading to higher council taxes.
Increased Cost to the Taxpayer: Creating two separate unitary councils rather than maintaining one unified council would incur substantial costs for the taxpayer. From the initial restructuring costs to the ongoing expenses of running two separate local authorities, the financial impact on residents and businesses could be significant. Administrative duplication, legal fees, and the establishment of new services and staff roles would all contribute to a higher financial burden. This could ultimately result in increased council tax for local residents, at a time when many are already facing financial difficulties.
Separation of Communities : A division of Gloucestershire would separate key settlements with distinct yet interconnected identities. Areas like Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and the Cotswolds would be placed in one unitary council, while Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Stroud would be in the other. These communities, though diverse, share many common interests—such as transport links, economic development, and environmental issues. Dividing them into different councils would weaken collaboration on critical issues such as regional infrastructure, tourism, flood prevention and the protection of natural landscapes, undermining the strength of the county as a whole.
No Democratic Mandate : No one voted for the break up of Gloucestershire.
People can view the full petition by clicking here. So far, it has been signed by more than 220 residents.