Plan to split county along North-South divide to be put to the Government

Lancashire County Council will tell the government that just two new local authorities should be created to replace the 15 which currently exist across Lancashire, as part of a radical shakeup being ordered by ministers.

- by Paul Faulkner

County Hall's ruling Reform UK group backed the establishment of standalone North Lancashire and South Lancashire councils at a meeting about the future shape of local government in the county.

The proposal will be submitted next week, once it has been ratified by cabinet members, in response to a request from the government for suggestions about how to streamline Lancashire's local authority system.

However, Whitehall will also be asked to delay the creation of the new authorities until 2029 at the earliest amid warnings that the planned timetable would cause "chaos" within key local services.

Under the county council's vision, the new North Lancashire Council would incorporate the existing Preston, Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster and Ribble Valley council areas - and serve more than 722,000 residents.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Ribble, South Lancashire Council would combine South Ribble, Chorley, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle - and provide services to just under 888,000 people.

Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson is a longstanding opponent to the principle of local government reorganisation (LGR).