Each day that goes by, the Waverley Spiders become more discombobulated by the changes to be inflicted on us. One of our arachnids fell off its web and died! It was all too much for it when it heard that Surrey could link with parts of West Sussex, so Cranleigh and Alfold could soon become part of Horsham. Has someone gone quietly mad?!
This week, there was an interesting development in local government reorganisation, as the government launched a consultation on plans for reform in Surrey, the first area to undergo this round of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Recently, Mr McMahon, the head honcho responsible for LGR, rejected a bid for a unitary authority that spanned county boundaries.
A few days ago, the government rejected the proposal for a new cross-border unitary centre around Gatwick Airport.
A bid by Reigate & Banstead (Surrey) and Crawley BC (West Sussex) sought Government support for a unitary authority that would cover the geographical area of Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. This cunning plan was thrown out! Then comes this.
Alfold and Dunsfold and Cranleigh border West Sussex and many residents feel more attuned to West Sussex than to Farnham or north of Guildford.
They are all running scared Labour and the Conservatives of Reform
Reigate and Banstead council wanted their cake and eat it. They supported two separate LGR proposals!
One to line up with Crawley and the other to support the D&Bs 3 x Unitary model.
Doesn’t get more bonkers than that!
The whole thing is becoming a White Hall farce.