• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Monday January 20 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wiltshire to be joined in devolution bid by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset councils are being joined in their devolution bid by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

As reported by Business Biscuit in December and January, Wiltshire has – albeit reluctantly – thrown its lot in with the neighbouring shire counties of Somerset and Dorset in a bid to form a devolved region called the Heart of Wessex.

The proposed new body would take responsibility for regional initiatives including strategic road networks and economic growth.

Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon – which are broadly similar in their rural nature with market town economies – are joining forces to avoid being paired with neighbouring councils with much bigger communities.

If Wiltshire were to join forces with Swindon and Berkshire, for instance, they would be very much the junior partners against economic powerhouses like Reading and Swindon.

The three councils have always said the door is open to both Swindon Borough Council and BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council.

And while the former looks likely to join forces with its Thames Valley neighbours, BCP – at a meeting last Wednesday – agreed to join the Wessex group.

BCP’s other option was to join Hampshire County Council, along with the regional powerhouses of Southampton and Portsmouth.

“After a clear decision from the chamber that BCP Council wants to join the government’s Priority Programme we spent time and thought considering the two options open to us – to look east to Hampshire or west to Wessex,” said councillor Millie Earl, Leader of BCP Council.

“My role as Leader, now, is to drive forward the next steps for devolution to make sure we get the best outcomes for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole residents.”

Bath will not be part of the collaboration – Bath & North East Somerset council is already part of the West of England Combined Authority.

Pictured: The Twin Sails Bridge, Poole Harbour courtesy of Jeff Owen Photos, published under Creative Commons licence

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