MP petitions against council's ‘land grab’ plans

A WESTCOUNTRY MP has launched a petition to stop a “land grab” by Plymouth City Council to absorb 13 parishes within the South Hams as part of a major shakeup of local government.

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The Government is pressing ahead with local government reorganisation to create more single tier unitary authorities across the country.

Plymouth City Council has proposed an expansion which would swallow up 13 parishes in the South Hams - Bickleigh, Shaugh Prior, Sparkwell, Brixton, Wembury, Cornwood, Harford, Ugborough, Ivybridge, Ermington, Yealmpton, Holbeton, and Newton and Noss.

South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith argues that many residents in Plympton and Plymstock already feel overlooked by Plymouth City Council, saying “this land grab will make it worse still’.

Devon's District Councils have put together their own proposal which Miss Smith says “takes account of local residents’ wishes’.