Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas has expressed strong reservations about Gloucestershire joining the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which is centered around Bristol. According to Thomas, aligning with WECA could result in Gloucestershire becoming a junior partner, with its interests sidelined amid Bristol’s dominant influence.
Instead, Thomas advocates for Gloucestershire to form stronger ties with Worcestershire, suggesting this partnership would better preserve the county’s autonomy and ensure its needs are more directly addressed. By collaborating with Worcestershire, Gloucestershire may have a more balanced and equal regional relationship, offering greater say in local governance and development projects.
Thomas’s concerns highlight the challenges counties face when joining larger, more dominant regional authorities and underscore the importance of choosing partnerships that promote fair representation and shared benefits.