Farewell to county's councils
LETTER: This week we have said farewell to both the district and county councils which have provided the structure of local government in Shropshire for the past 35 years.
I was a district councillor for five-and-a-half years in south Shropshire, so saw for myself how the structure of local government worked to serve people, for better or worse, with all its idiosyncrasies.
I also saw how dedicated councillors, council officers and council staff were. I wish them all well for the future.
Most of those within the county council and Bridgnorth and South Shropshire district councils have secu- red good roles within the new Shropshire Council, or have taken early retirement.
Shropshire is better prepared for the new council structure than any other area moving to new unitary authorities.
This is thanks to the meticulous planning and hard work by the leadership – councillors and officers – of those councils which have ceased to exist.
The Government has arranged for two months of co-opted councillors until the new Shropshire Council takes office from 5 June.
We need to make the best of this new structure. Today is a moment to reflect on the achievements of the councils we have lost, which have by and large served us well.
Philip Dunne MP
Ludlow
