Gloucestershire is poised to assert its autonomy by establishing its own strategic authority, rather than joining a partnership dominated by Bristol or aligning with northern neighbours Herefordshire and Worcestershire. This stance emerged prominently during a recent devolution debate at Gloucestershire County Council.
While the Liberal Democrat leadership at Shire Hall prefers joining the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), citing strong economic and cultural links to Bristol, this sentiment is not universally shared. Civic leaders in Bristol have reportedly resisted including Gloucestershire, with the current WECA mayor opposing the county’s entry.
Meanwhile, Reform UK, which leads the opposition at Gloucestershire County Council, supports a Mercia partnership with northern counties, aligning with Gloucestershire’s historical and cultural ties to the Midlands.
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Another route under consideration is Gloucestershire operating independently. Council officials have agreed to submit a preference for establishing a single-county foundation strategic authority alongside the option to join WECA in the future.
County Councillor Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton), also leader of Gloucester City Council, advocates for Gloucestershire’s own strategic authority. Speaking at the March 25 meeting, he emphasized that Gloucestershire is substantial enough — with a population over 660,000 — to manage devolved powers effectively without being subsumed into Bristol or combined with Bath, Hereford, or Worcester.
Hilton highlighted the opportunity to reclaim powers previously removed from the County Council and suggested that a Gloucestershire foundation strategic authority could be a permanent solution. He envisions a future where South Gloucestershire could rejoin, uniting the historic county under one governing body to address major regional issues cohesively.
During the debate, Councillor Martin Horwood (LD, Leckhampton and Warden Hill) criticized the devolution process as a “top-down centralising imposition” by central government but agreed with the vision of a Greater Gloucestershire. He noted the county’s historic ties to Bristol, mentioning Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s location in the city as symbolic of this connection.
Horwood expressed support for a strategic authority encompassing North, East, West, and South Gloucestershire, underscoring the potential benefits of a unified governance structure.