Radical shake-up of Hampshire councils branded ‘a disaster’ as Gosport vows to fight merger
The leader of Gosport Borough Council has urged the government to pause its reorganisation plans as he says it will bring about “end of local government.”
Most Hampshire councils have worked together on a joint proposal to government outlining how they think boundaries should be redrawn.
But Councillor Peter Chegwyn has always maintained the whole process of local government reorganisation is taking away local decisions from communities.
He said: “The government should scrap the whole thing. It’s a complete waste of time and money and will destroy local government taking decisions away from local people.”
He said there has been talk of decision-making being made by Havant and Portsmouth which would not be in the interests of Gosport people.
“We are completely opposed to local government reorganisation,” he said. “I think it will be a disaster for local government and for Gosport and all the surrounding authorities.
“This is the end of local government, if we are steam rolled into do this. It should pause and think again.”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is planning to abolish the two-tier local authority structure and create larger unitary councils delivering all services.
The government has asked councils to come up with plans by the end of September that will divide Hampshire into unitary authorities of 500,000 people.
“Bigger is not better. The present system is not perfect but better than the proposed plans. There is no demand from local people for mega councils,” said Cllr Chegwyn.
He said that the local issues affecting residents in Gosport have little in common with Fareham and nothing whatsoever with the people of Havant.
He added: “Putting the New Forest in Southampton is bonkers. Horses grazing and city boys are two different areas and problems.”
He said while the other councils have spent half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money Gosport has not spent a penny on consultants and withdrew from those meetings.
All 15 Hampshire councils will be submitting plans to Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Gosport will however submit its document separately, said Cllr Chegwyn.
This decision from government is expected in spring 2026 following a public consultation.
“Hands off Gosport,” said Cllr Chegwyn.