Districts back creation of two unitary authorities

Just of the press Northumberland Today

Councils united in fight for two local bodies
DISTRICT councils in Northumberland are backing the creation of two unitary authorities in the county.

Tynedale Council this week joined Alnwick District Council, Berwick Borough Council and those in the south east of the county in calling for rural and urban authorities. The decision is in response to the Government’s White Paper on council reforms which gave authorities until
January 25 to come up with proposals to abolish the current system of district and county councils. If the proposal is accepted, one authority would serve rural Northumberland comprising the Alnwick, Berwick, Castle Morpeth and Tynedale districts and one would cover the Blyth and Wansbeck areas.

Coun Heather Cairns, leader of Alnwick District Council, said she was pleased that all district councils were united. She said: “Rural Northumberland needs a council that addresses the specific needs and priorities of its communities, it is important that decisions are made by local people with local knowledge.” However, the county council has already declared its preference for a single Northumberland authority. The Government has indicted that about eight counties’ submissions will be approved.