Fears raised Watnall will be left 'unparished' under LGR plans
A parish council has raised concerns over the future for Watnall residents under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Nottinghamshire is heading for its largest boundary shake-up in 50 years, after the Government confirmed in July how the area’s nine councils would be merged to create two new unitary authorities as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
By 2028, sections of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe will become part of an enlarged Nottingham city area to form a new unitary authority and a second unitary authority will cover the rest of the county – ending the existing two-tier structure.
However, this has raised issues for Watnall, which is currently part of Greasley Parish Council, along with areas like Giltbrook, Greasley, Moorgreen and Newthorpe.
Under LGR plans, however, Giltbrook, Greasley, Moorgreen and Newthorpe would be part of the the county unitary but Watnall would become part of the wider Nottingham city unitary.
This has raised fears Watnall could be left unparished under LGR.
Louise Turgoose, Greasley parish clerk, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said: "To think that potentially a third of our residents could be without help and potentially left on their own is horrible to think about, and the implications for our staff members.
“It’s about losing that representation, there would be a lack of representation for people that live in the area, work in the area, who want to see the best for the area – where decisions about Watnall would be made at a much higher level in Nottingham.”
The parish council currently maintains the area’s sports and community centre along with facilities such as allotments and parks.
Ms Turgoose says in an effort to ‘preserve’ the representation of those living in Watnall, both the parish council and Broxtowe Council are calling on the Government to retain the whole of the Greasley parish area within the county unitary by amending the proposed boundary changes.
If this cannot be achieved, the councils say they would like the parish council to continue representing all its areas under LGR – regardless of whether Watnall technically falls under the new wider Nottingham unitary – or ensure similar representation can be given in future, potentially under a new Watnall parish.