The government wants Lancashire to re-organise into larger 500,000 people council areas.
True to form most areas of Lancashire have different preferences. This results in 5 options for the 1.6m population. Any option above 3 councils doesn’t meet the governments target of each council covering 500,000 people.
South Ribble has more association with Preston than other areas having largely once been part of Rural Preston but this isn’t the preference of either area.
Preston prefers to join with Lancaster and Ribble Valley which overall would create 4 new councils averaging 400,000 people each.
The only compliant proposals are:
Two councils: populations around 800,000 each.
The 2 would be divided into north and south by the River Ribble.
Three councils: populations averaging 533,000.
1. Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire.
2. Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster and Wyre.
3. Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.
This is supported by 5 of the 14 councils. The 4 council solution is preferred by 6 councils plus one council that prefers a different four.
Our preference is for a one Mayor of Lancashire solution over 4 councils.
Greater Manchester has 10 authorities for 2.8million which is 280,000 each. With the Mayor sitting above. Could Lancashire have one Mayor sitting over the 4 or a 5 council option solution? Where would the Mayor sit: County Hall, Preston.
The report on the BBC website has useful maps and tables, click here.