Council leaders react to local government shake-up

Lancashire is set to get four new councils as part of a shake-up of local government, replacing the current 15 authorities in the county.

Council leaders have been giving their views on the four new councils.

Under the changes Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre will form one council, while Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley will join together in another.

Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire are set to merge into a single authority.

Meanwhile, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale would make up a new council for east Lancashire.

The government said local government reorganisation would lead to "streamlined services, clearer accountability, and an end to wasteful duplication".

The leader of Lancashire County Council, Stephen Atkinson, said he felt the shake-up was "just wrong".

"I'm really disappointed and I'm sure the residents of Lancashire will be," he said.

"The speed this is happening is so dangerous, it's never been attempted in recent memory where you aggregate three upper-tier councils, aggregate 12 districts, and then split them into four.

"We're taking about vulnerable adults and children and computer systems that won't talk to each other."

Blackpool Council's leader, Lynn Williams, said there was "a real risk of losing Blackpool's identity in reorganisation".

"Our duty now is to make sure that when the new councils come into force in 2028, they are set up with residents at the heart of them," she added.

"Blackpool is the geographic centre of the new council and the biggest economic area, so I will now be working hard to ensure that Blackpool voices are heard and can shape the future direction of the new authority."

Councillor Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde Council, said: "Our residents spoke clearly against this change, as they value our independence, our identity and the close relationship we have with our communities.

"Although this is not the route we would have chosen, government has now taken a decision, and our responsibility is to protect Fylde's interests as the process moves forward.

"Residents can be assured that Fylde's voice will be heard clearly."

Michael Vincent, leader of Wyre Council, said: "From a community perspective, for us it makes the most sense, it's the Fylde coast.

"The issue of course, is though the people of Wyre and Fylde alone will be responsible for subsidising Blackpool.

"Wyre and Fylde are debt-free councils, we're going to take on a share of two billion pounds of Lancashire County Council's debt, and we will acquire all of Blackpool's debt."

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council said the move "heralds a new and exciting time".

"We cannot underestimate how big this change is for us all, and it will take time and careful management, but it will bring with it some amazing new opportunities for growth and prosperity across the county," he said.

"For now, we must stress it is business as usual."

The leader of Lancaster City Council, Caroline Jackson, said Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley joining together was "not a bad organisation in terms of communications" and had "strong links economically and academically".

Ribble Valley Borough Council leader, Simon Hore, said: "We felt strongly that the four unitary model was in the best interests of Ribble Valley and are delighted that the government agrees.

"We look forward to working with our partners to deliver a smooth transition to the new authority, which promises an exciting future for our residents and businesses."

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, leader of South Ribble Borough Council said: "We went into this process with the one aim – to get the best result for the people of South Ribble.

"This decision is the best one we could have hoped for, and I am pleased that government has taken the Four Lancashire proposal forward.

"It's a proposal that has high ambitions for growth, while still allowing for our local areas to receive the best opportunities they can to continue to thrive."

The leader of Burnley Council, Afrasiab Anwar, said an east Lancashire authority without the Ribble Valley "would be unsustainable".

"One of the things I will be doing is writing to government to ask them how they're going to make that authority sustainable, when the actual bid that was put in said that it wouldn't be," he said.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said it was not the decision "we were hoping for".

"We made a strong case on behalf of Pendle's residents, businesses and communities, but we respect the outcome," he said.

He added that the priority was now to work together to "promote growth, inclusion and prosperity while respecting the identities, history and geography of east Lancashire".

The BBC has contacted Chorley, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Rossendale councils for a comment.

The changes would see Lancashire County Council and the existing district councils disappear in April 2028, but elections for the new councils could be held as soon as next May.

The new councils will be responsible for delivering all local authority services, including education, social care, highways, waste, planning and housing.

The current two-tier local government system has been in place since 1974, with the exception of Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, which became unitary authorities in 1998.

The government announced in December 2024 that it wanted to get rid of the two-tier system and replace it with smaller unitary authorities, which would control all the services in their areas.

In 2025, all 15 authorities were asked to suggest a way forward and, after they failed to reach an agreement, five options were submitted to the government - ranging from two councils to five.

The new authorities will run in tandem with the existing councils for a year before those authorities are phased out.

Secretary of State for Local Government Steve Reed said: "We're shaking up local government so that people get the services they deserve - cleaner streets, better care, and money spent on what matters most to local people.

"These reforms create stronger, more efficient councils that lay the foundations for real devolution and the economic growth that will bring new jobs and opportunities to communities right across England."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.