Council told merger is ‘appalling’

The people of Broseley have strongly opposed plans to merge the town with Much Wenlock under the new unitary council.

The proposals to merge the two into a single unitary division called Much Wenlock Division have been met with dismay.

A public meeting was held at the Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley, on Tuesday evening to discuss the proposal to alter the town’s electoral boundaries before Shropshire’s unitary council comes into force next year.

Councillor Jean Jones said members of the town council passed the motion that they were very strongly oppose to Broseley being put into a Much Wenlock ward.

Instead the preferred option would be that Broseley becomes one ward with one representative.

Councillor Jones said: “If the boundary committee refuse to accept that then we would reluctantly accept for them to move the Broseley boundary in.

“Our argument is that Broseley has enough evidence for it to stand alone as a community.

“Both Much Wenlock and Broseley have very strong communities but they are both very different communities.

“The whole proposal is all to do with numbers on the electoral boundaries.

“I have lived in Broseley all my life and the thought of being included in Much Wenlock is absolutely appalling. I’ve fought so hard for this town.

“Everyone in Broseley feels they have been over-looked in the past. For this to happen it would put back all the work we have done and would be like turning back the clock.”

Councillor Jones urged as many people as possible to write or e-mail to the boundary committee to make their feelings known. The deadline is August 22 and a final decision is due to be made in September.

There is also a petition being organised in the town, which is available in many of the shops.

By Rachael Lowe