The leader of Central Bedfordshire Council has accused Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) of “highway robbery” with a scheme to take land from Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils.
But Huntingdonshire District Council said the proposal is only one option being explored.
Cllr Adam Zerny (Independent) said a Huntingdonshire document on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) appears to suggest that several Bedfordshire communities could be absorbed into a new authority based in Cambridgeshire.
These include parts of Roxton, Wyboston and Chawston in Bedford borough, and areas around Tempsford, Everton and Sandy in Central Bedfordshire,
The suggestion forms part of ongoing discussions in Cambridgeshire, where two new unitary bodies could replace existing district councils.
Cllr Zerny said government guidance indicates that any standalone unitary council should have a population of at least 500,000, adding that Huntingdonshire currently has around 186,000 residents.
A HDC report notes that a major new settlement near Tempsford could take the figure to roughly 317,000 by 2040, although this would still fall short of the suggested minimum size.
Councillor Zerny also said neither Central Bedfordshire Council nor Bedford Borough Council was approached before the document was published.
In a letter to Huntingdonshire’s leader, cllr Sarah Conboy, cllr Zerny wrote: “I am left with the impression this land grab appears to be an attempt to justify the idea of Huntingdonshire as a standalone local authority, rather than what it should be, an effort to benefit local residents.
“Last year, I noticed a house in Little Stukeley, Huntingdonshire, was boasting that Dick Turpin had stayed there. Little did I expect to see a modern-day highway robbery being proposed so close to us.”
Cllr Zerny said changes of this kind are “extremely rare” and would require strong evidence that residents would gain from the move.
Cllr Sarah Conboy (Liberal Democrats), executive leader at HDC, said: “As part of the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation, we’re exploring a range of options, including a standalone unitary authority for Huntingdonshire known as Option E.
“We’re not currently proposing any boundary changes as part of Option E, references to Tempsford simply form part of wider analysis looking at how to support sustainable growth and effective local services.
“We recognise the strong community, economic and transport links between St Neots, Tempsford, Wyboston and nearby villages, and the close relationships between these places and between local councils already exist, as suggested by the work undertaken on the emerging St Neots Neighbourhood Plan.
“These options are exploratory and intended to inform future discussions about how best to manage growth and deliver effective governance in the long term.”
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
