Hertfordshire county council is drawing up proposals as we speak to abolish two tiered government. 

That would mean that every local council, from Three Rivers to North Herts would be abolished and all power devolved to Hertfordshire County Council. 

Local areas will lose their representation and their ability to choose a vision different to the one held by a council that hasn’t changed political hands for a very long time. It would be difficult to effect any change that a local community wants, and the electorate would not have the same voice and power as it does now. 

Local knowledge in local communities and the intricacies that make our local areas unique will disappear, blanket policies will be imposed. 

Centralised decision making can make things more efficient from an economic standpoint, granted. But this merger will not create financial accountability. Our local councils receive increased scrutiny because of their smaller electoral bases.

Some places, like Watford, have a democratically elected mayor and are far more politically independent than they would ever be under the proposals. 

This proposal, if enacted would be akin to driving a bulldozer through local government. It is an ill thought out power grab. We must join together to defeat it. 

The local councils affected will be:

Broxbourne Borough Council

Dacorum Borough Council

East Herts Council

Hertsmere Borough Council

North Hertfordshire District Council

St Albans City and District Council

Stevenage Borough Council

Three Rivers District Council

Watford Borough Council

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council