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Tewkesbury MP and Council Leader Advocate for United Gloucestershire Amid Concerns Over County Split

Monday, March 9, 2026 gloucestershire unitary localgovernment publicservices council reorganization consultation equality community governance

Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas and Borough Council Leader Richard Stanley have joined forces to express strong support for maintaining a single unitary authority across Gloucestershire. They warn that dividing the county into two separate authorities risks creating inequities in service delivery and investment. Currently, a public consultation is underway exploring three proposals for reorganizing local government in Gloucestershire. The options include establishing one unified unitary council covering the entire county, expanding Gloucester City Council’s authority while separating the rest of the county, or splitting Gloucestershire into two unitary authorities—one for Gloucester, Stroud, and the Forest of Dean in the west, and another for Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and the Cotswolds in the east.