City needs county status restored

The 1972 Redcliffe-maud Report on local government reorganisation was a compromise.

Government subsequently recognised it did not provide involvement for communities in the cities and towns within the large districts, resulting in the option of area member panels able to be introduced but only as discussion forums making recommendations to committees, not decisions.

In March 2013, the Canterbury area member panel unanimously resolved not to implement the Westgate Towers traffic trial but were then overruled on Canterbury City Council by the interference of outside councillors representing wards in Bridge, Blean, Herne Bay and Whitstable.

At the entrance to the Westgate Gardens next to the Westgate Towers there is a clue to the historical importance of the original city of Canterbury.

The signboard now serves as a reminder to Canterbury citizens of the importance of the county status granted to the city in 1448 by King Henry VI and which was removed by the government of Edward Heath in 1974.

County boroughs were the original allin-one single-tier local authority, with both the city council and county council responsibilities fully integrated.

Long live restoration of the City of Canterbury as a county borough! Richard West Tudor Road, Canterbury