Forest of Dean says 'no' to plan for council shake-up

THE Forest of Dean opposes all options of the proposed council shakeup in Gloucestershire and civic chiefs have blasted what many see as a Government attack on local democracy.

- CARMELO GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

Ministers want to do away with two-tier authority areas across England as part of a Government drive which they claim will empower local leaders.

They believe unitary councils can lead to saving money which can be reinvested in public services.

In Gloucestershire, that would mean district authorities such as the Forest of Dean would merge with Gloucestershire County Council for one or two unitaries to be created in their place.

The seven authorities have worked together in recent months to come up with two proposals.

A single unitary council made up of the six districts and Shire Hall or two authorities, one in the East covering Cheltenham, Cotswold and Tewkesbury with another in the West composed of Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Stroud.

Another option being developed by Gloucester City Council, known as the Greater Gloucester proposal, aims to create an expanded unitary around the city with another authority made up of the rest of the county.

However, the view in Coleford was clear on Wednesday night as councillors voted to reject all of the above.

Forest MP Matt Bishop was in the public gallery to hear firsthand just how unpopular his Labour Party Government’s devolution plans are among councillors.