North-South divide: County council's plan to cut Lancashire in two

Just two new councils should be created to serve the whole of Lancashire when the area's 15 existing local authorities are abolished, Lancashire County Council is set to argue.

- by Paul Faulkner

The authority has published its preferred option for the outcome of a government-ordered shakeup that will usher in-by April 2028 - the most radical changes to the council landscape in Lancashire in more than 50 years.

Under the county's council's vision, two new authorities - North Lancashire and South Lancashire-would be created, with the River Ribble broadly being the dividing line between the two.

North Lancashire would bind together the six areas currently covered by Preston, Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster and Ribble Valley councils - a total of more than 722,000 residents.

Meanwhile South Lancashire would combine the eight council areas of South Ribble, Chorley, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle - assuming responsibility for a population of just under 888,000 people.

The ruling Reform UK on Lancashire County Council is opposed, in principle, to so-called local government reorganisation (LGR), but the authority has nevertheless had to answer a call from ministers to draw up its preference for the changes.

County Hall claims that its proposal is the only one that will ensure "a fair deal for every community in Lancashire".

All 15 Lancashire councils have been going through the same mapping process, with the deadline for submissions looming on 28th November.

It is expected five proposals will be put forward to create anything between two and five new councils - including two different versions of a four-council option.