New plan for local authorities shake-up 'a land grab by city'

DISTRICT COUNCIL LEADER ACCUSES NEIGHBOUR OF 'CHERRY PICKING' TO TACKLE DEBT

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

NOTTINGHAM City Council has been accused of planning a “land grab” as parts of Nottinghamshire could be split in two under new boundary shakeup proposals.

The Labour-run authority insists that its latest plans, which could effectively double the population size of Nottingham, are about trying to replace “out-of-date boundaries”.

A new map has revealed the areas of Nottinghamshire that would effectively be split in two under the city council’s plans.

Rushcliffe would be split straight down the middle, with the A46 seemingly being used as the dividing line to separate areas to the left that would merge with the city and those to the right that would be left behind.

It would mean Bingham and scores of small Rushcliffe villages such as Tithby and Colston Bassett would be part of a new county council, while West Bridgford, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Ruddington and Keyworth would join the city.

Councillor Neil Clarke, Conservative leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: "What they're doing is cherry picking all the good council taxpaying areas and the money from their land grab can be used to pay off their debts.

"What's more important than the stuff they're poaching is what's left and the area they're leaving is completely financially unsustainable."

City council leader Councillor Neghat Khan said: "The reality is that the current city boundaries - set in 1997 - don't reflect the 'real' Nottingham.

"We know that Nottingham has changed and it's time we set a boundary that reflects where we are now, recognising that this isn't just about today, but about the next 50 years."

Other areas that would stead would form part of a new county council.