Campaigners for West Bridgford to have its own Town Council say they are now “tantalisingly close” to getting enough signatures to trigger the legal go ahead.
They need 2,500 valid signatures from registered local voters – that’s 7.5% of the suburb’s electorate – to petition Rushcliffe Borough Council to enable a “Community Governance Review“, the legal procedure to create a Town Council.
So far, campaigners have gathered 2,369 signatures and must hit their target by the end of the month, the deadline set by Rushcliffe Borough Council officials. Special cards spelling out the case for Town Council status are being delivered to 15,000 homes and there’s been a campaign stall in Central Avenue most Saturdays to reach out to shoppers.
”It’s going to be touch and go,” admitted Councillor Steve Calvert, of the West Bridgford Local Area Forum, the official campaign group pressing for Town Council status. The Forum includes West Bridgford councillors, local community groups and representatives from organisations, including the police and bus operators.
“It’s tantalisingly close, but we are confident we’ll get there. It’s just a case of getting the message out,” he said.
“Whenever we speak to residents, we explain that a Town Council would ensure that the interests of West Bridgford are heard loud and clear in the new Greater Nottingham Council”.
West Bridgford remains the only area in Rushcliffe not to have its own Town Council.
If successful, the next significant development will be in September at the first full meeting of Rushcliffe Borough Council after the summer break, to approve the “Community Governance Review” and complete the legal process before the authority is abolished in April 2028 and replaced by the new Greater Nottingham Council.
If unsuccessful, it will have to wait until the next full Rushcliffe council meeting in December.
“We are urging people to go on the campaign web site to sign their support on-line. August can be a quiet time politically, but we need to remind local people not to delay, “ added Labour Councillor Calvert, who represents West Bridgford’s Abbey ward on Rushcliffe Council.
The campaign now has the backing of virtually all the political parties on Rushcliffe Council. Most recently, Liberal Democrats in West Bridgford distributed leaflets to local homes giving their support.
“A Town Council will provide better local democracy and provide more effective local services,” according to their Focus newsletter.
Earlier this year, a survey of local residents – organised by the Area Forum – revealed 87% of those questioned were in favour of a Town Council. The boundary of the Town Council would include West Bridgford, Edwalton, Compton Acres and part of the Gamston estate south of the Grantham canal.
