New Council Allows Bromsgrove to Take Back Control Over Local Issues

Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement of a new North Worcestershire Council for Bromsgrove.

The plans are part of the Government's reorganisation which is seeing all areas with ‘two tiers’ of councils rationalise into one.

Keeping a council just for Bromsgrove was not an option and two rival bids were submitted, one for a single Council for the whole of the county, and one for a smaller North Worcestershire Council. 

Last week the Government announced it was going ahead with a North Worcestershire Council.

The Lib Dems have welcomed the opportunity for the new council to 'take back control' over areas such as highways, highlighting that poor decisions have been made in the past by councillors in the south of the county, such as the disastrous Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP) roadworks. 

The Lib Dems are calling on opponents including local MP Bradley Thomas to stop spreading misinformation that Bromsgrove is being merged with Birmingham.

Local party Chair Cllr David Nicholl said: ‘We support the North Worcestershire model because it brings services closer to those who use them. It’s fine to support a single council for cost cutting reasons but please stop spreading misinformation. There are absolutely zero plans to merge Bromsgrove with Birmingham and there never were.’

Cllr Sam Evans added: ‘All the research shows that smaller councils deliver better services to residents as decisions are made by those who live in and understand their area. The North Worcestershire model offers us an opportunity to take back control from county hall, especially on issues such as highways where decisions have been made by people who don't understand Bromsgrove. Residents are rightfully very frustrated with the lack of progress with the ongoing roadworks and hopefully a new council will ensure such previous poor decisions are not made again.’