A public meeting has been scheduled to gather local opinions on uniting Coopers Edge, a Gloucester suburb currently split by complicated and confusing boundaries.
Coopers Edge sits on Gloucester’s outskirts but is divided between Stroud and Tewkesbury districts and falls under three separate parish councils: Brockworth, Hucclecote, and Upton St Leonards. These boundary lines, described by residents as “bonkers,” sometimes even split through individual homes.
Gloucestershire is undergoing a local government reorganization, with plans to merge district authorities like Tewkesbury and Stroud with Gloucestershire County Council, potentially forming one or two unitary councils. This restructuring could resolve some of Coopers Edge’s boundary challenges, especially under a single unitary council or the City Council’s Greater Gloucester model.
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However, concerns remain that if the government chooses to divide the county into East and West unitary councils, existing divisions may become more entrenched.
Currently, Tewkesbury Borough Council is reviewing community governance in its parishes, and Stroud is expected to do the same. While these reviews don’t immediately offer a path to a single parish for Coopers Edge—given its split between two councils—they offer an opportunity to build community support for such a unification.
To this end, an online survey has been launched to gather residents’ views. A public meeting will also take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the Coopers Edge Community Centre, Typhoon Way, GL3 4DY.
Chas Townley, a Hucclecote parish councillor, explained, “We want to hear from residents about the possibility of creating a single parish for Coopers Edge. Many believe this would strengthen the community and offer a brighter future. Our survey is online and open to all.”
The Coopers Edge Liaison Committee will also update residents on the progress of adopting community assets like highways and public open spaces.
Survey responses will initially be submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council’s community governance review, which closes on June 26.