Residents of Chapel-en-le-Frith express strong opposition to plans for merging with Greater Manchester councils, fearing loss of identity and increased costs.
Chapel-en-le-Frith: Just nine miles from the hustle and bustle of Manchester, this charming Peak District town feels worlds apart. With its traditional stone buildings and quiet streets, it’s a place where many residents cherish their rural lifestyle.
Home to about 8,000 people, Chapel-en-le-Frith is part of High Peak Borough Council, which is under Derbyshire County Council. In contrast, Greater Manchester boasts a whopping 2.9 million residents.
Recently, there have been talks about merging local councils, and some proposals suggest that High Peak could join forces with Tameside or Stockport in Greater Manchester. This idea has stirred up quite a bit of debate.
Jon Pearce, the local Labour MP, has shown interest in this merger happening by the end of 2024. However, many locals aren’t on board with his vision. Arthur Carrington, a lifelong resident, shared his thoughts, saying, “Most folks around here don’t even go to Manchester. It’s a big city, and we’re just country folk.”
Arthur feels that merging would change the character of their town. He added, “It’s not just about the name on the address; there’s no real connection.” He also raised concerns about potential administrative costs if they were to join Manchester.
Alan Waterhouse, another local, echoed these sentiments. He worries that merging would lead to even more congestion. “People commute from here to Manchester, but they don’t really contribute to our community. If we join Greater Manchester, that could get worse,” he said.
Dawn Goodwin, a fellow resident, is also concerned about the financial implications of such a move. “I’d prefer to stay as we are. Joining Greater Manchester might mean higher costs for us,” she explained, expressing her disbelief at the MP’s proposal.
High Peak Borough Council leader, Councillor Anthony McKeown, mentioned that they need time to review the merger proposals. He stated, “We didn’t have detailed information about the local government reorganization, so we need to consider what’s best for our residents and businesses.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, is open to the idea of local government reform if it brings savings and simplifies access to services. He noted that discussions are still ongoing and that they need to carefully examine the government’s proposals.
