Gosport councillors say 'hands off Gosport'

Gosport Councillors have stated their opposition to plans for local government reorganisation, issuing a 'hands off Gosport' message to government.

Councillors voted to register their objection to government plans that would end the borough's current two-tier system of Hampshire County Council operating alongside Gosport Borough Council and replace both organisations with one new unitary council that would cover a larger area.

Gosport Borough Council Leader Cllr Peter Chegwyn proposed the motion, he said: "Bigger is not necessarily better and I firmly believe decisions on Gosport's future are best made by Gosport councillors who are elected by and accountable to our local residents. Being part of a larger area would see decisions being made from people outside of Gosport who are less likely to have the borough's interests at heart. We do not need local government reorganisation and the government should keep its hands off Gosport.

"Devolution as a concept is a good thing, bringing more power to a local level would be very positive but this should be done by giving extra powers to organisations like Gosport Borough Council who are closer to the people they serve and thereby more democratic and accountable than a new regional mega-council with a population of 500,000 or more. It is also disappointing this year's Hampshire County Council elections have been postponed and takes away our residents opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote."

Published 7 February 2025