Advertiser reader’s letter: Suggestions for councils’ reorganisation

It was very interesting to read in the Advertiser of the three proposals — and that by Rushcliffe Borough Council leader Neil Clarke — of how the county might be split up under local government reorganisation.

The nine existing councils would become two unitary authorities.

While I don’t know what other residents might think of these proposals it has obviously been seen that the councils around the city of Nottingham are largely urban in character, while those to the north of Gedling Borough Council are rural in character.

On that basis, perhaps a merger of Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood Districts might merge to form one new unitary authority.

The other five district and borough Councils would then form the other unitary authority.

Even so, both Rushcliffe and Gedling borough councils also have rural areas adjoining Newark and Sherwood.

Nottingham City as another sole unitary authority is surely not large enough to sustain its independence.

Some boundaries may need changing.

Clearly Mr Clarke is looking at matters in the current political status of local government, but this may well change if these proposals are accepted by Central Government — and clearly all residents deserve high quality services, including leisure centres and libraries as well as public transport and other essential services.

The localised knowledge would clearly come from the new representatives of the formed districts and boroughs who would form the new unitary councils?

Many years ago when the regions of England were set up I had hoped to see the Central Government giving some of its powers to devolved regional assemblies but this never happened, although devolution did occur in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, possibly with limited success. — A. M. WADDINGTON, Sutton-on-Trent.