It is always a bit of a shock when you think that you have considered all the options, and then another possibility presents itself.
Well that is what is happening today to local councillors all over Suffolk. At around 7 a.m. this morning Babergh received the report from the Boundary Committee with regard to Local Government reorganisation in Suffolk. The Committee's preferred option for the county did not reflect any of the possibilities envisaged by most local authorities, being closest in nature to the route preferred by the Liberal Democrat opposition at the County Council!
What is proposed is two unitary authorities for the county. The first is essentially a ‘Greater Ipswich’ council, including Felixstowe and much of the Shotley Peninsula, but stopping short of Hadleigh in the West and Woodbridge to the North. This essentially urban high growth area will focus on the Haven Gateway and may well end up being called ‘North Haven’, or something similar. The population covered by this will be roughly 200,000.
The second is basically the rest of rural Suffolk. Around 400,000 people will be involved. What is planned is
‘An authority that would provide a focus for the majority of the county that would reflect the historic identity of Suffolk’. It is envisaged that ‘ the focus of this new authority would centre around its historic market towns and rural hinterlands.’
So we have fast growth urban/ vs. More pedestrian rural. Two speed Suffolk perhaps? Basically the Committee have decided to split the county on the basis of what amounts to ‘cultural’ distinctions.
The plans have been met with hostility from most fellow councillors to whom I have spoken so far. Many now think we should back the One Suffolk option, which remains on the table as a possible (but not the preferred) alternative.
In my opinion this would be a mistake. Just because our preferred option has not been accepted, we do not need immediately to jump to support what we formerly considered to be second best. I believe, having read the document carefully, that there is much merit in the arguments of the Committee, which I think has shown originality and logic in reaching its conclusions. People should give their preferred option, which represents new territory for most people, fair consideration before reaching a conclusion.
