MP Cooper against Preston merger
SOUTHPORT could rejoin Lancashire under plans to transform the county’s local governance, one MP has suggested.
Rival plans are currently being made to abolish all county, district, borough and town councils across Lancashire and replace them with three unitary authorities and potentially a mayoral role.
Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver has sent his plans for Government consideration and wants to see West Lancashire join Chorley, South Ribble and Preston in one of the authorities.
However, the leaders of those three councils do not want to be lumped in with the city for fear of resources being drained away from their own residents.
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has also vowed to fight that plan and instead suggested that Southport could be invited to join the smaller councils in a separate merger.
She believes both the proposed setup and the current system under Lancashire County Council leave behind West Lancashire residents and agrees that “some reorganisation is necessary”.
Ms Cooper said: “Any local government reorganisation for West Lancashire which would lead to any joining or merging with Preston would not have my support or that of my West Lancashire constituents, indeed it has my outright objection.
“Leaders of West Lancashire, Chorley and South Ribble have written to the Secretary of State stating their intention to support work to develop a business case on this footprint, this is something I could consider more positively as I would the inclusion of Southport in a future plan.
“Whatever the outcome, I will continue to fight for West Lancashire constituents to be provided with a service they deserve as council taxpayers and that their issues and concerns are the top priority.”