Criticism of the proposed Greater Gloucester Council has drawn a dramatic comparison to the city’s historic resilience during the First English Civil War. Gloucester City Council leader Jeremy Hilton described the backlash against his vision for a reorganised local authority as reminiscent of the “Second Siege of Gloucester.”
In 1643, Gloucester famously resisted Royalist forces during a critical siege led by Parliamentarian Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Massey, successfully defending the city from August 10 to September 5. Today, Cllr Hilton suggests Gloucester is once again under pressure, this time from critics across Gloucestershire who oppose the plan.
The government is considering restructuring councils across England, including Gloucestershire. Currently, Gloucestershire operates under a two-tier system where services are split between the county council and six district councils. The three options on the table are: one unitary authority for the entire county, splitting Gloucestershire into two unitary authorities (east and west), or a unitary authority centred around Gloucester, incorporating surrounding parishes like Brockworth, Churchdown, Hardwicke, Highnam, Longford, and Upton St Leonards.
Cllr Hilton strongly supports the Gloucester-centred model, citing the city’s rich 2,000-year history and the importance of maintaining a distinct council for Gloucester.
The proposal has faced ridicule from various quarters throughout the county, including members of Hilton’s own Liberal Democrat party. Addressing this criticism at a full council meeting on July 17, Community Independents group leader Alastair Chambers questioned whether Hilton felt embarrassed by the widespread dismissal of the plan.
In response, Hilton acknowledged the intensity of opposition but remained firm. “It does feel a bit like the second siege of Gloucester, the way some people around the county are trying to do Gloucester down and rubbish the Greater Gloucester Council proposal,” he said. “It is a sound proposal and one of three serious options being considered.”
He criticized the alternative plans, highlighting the east-west split option as creating arbitrary boundaries that divide communities and unbalance resources between richer and poorer areas. He emphasized that the Greater Gloucester model offers a sensible, historic, and sustainable approach.
At the same meeting, councillors approved a motion to hold a full debate on the Greater Gloucester plans, giving city councillors their first formal opportunity to discuss the proposal in detail.
Cllr Hilton compared the potential new council’s size and scope to existing unitary authorities such as Bath and North East Somerset Council and Herefordshire Council, serving roughly 200,000 residents. He stressed the importance of getting the structure right for Gloucester’s long-term future.
Labour group leader Terry Pullen, who motioned for the debate, urged all councillors to engage constructively: “Let’s have a meeting to discuss Greater Gloucester so we can represent our communities properly and move forward.”
The debate marks a crucial step in shaping the future governance of Gloucester and Gloucestershire as the local government reforms advance.