PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Local Government Reorganisation - 2 September 2026 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Further to a similar online petition of more than 4,200 signatures, I present this petition on local government reorganisation in Devon. The plans published in July by the Government appear to have been configured entirely to benefit the urban areas of Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay, and call into question service delivery, local democracy, and local identity across the county’s rural communities. Arguably there is no conceivable way that it can result in growth in every postcode. As a result I welcome the Prime Minister’s agreement yesterday to revisit the current plan, and my hope is that the strength of feeling shown by residents in South West Devon, south Devon, and across the county, will result in a meeting with Ministers to discuss a way forward that benefits the whole county, with local services that we can all be proud of, and that do not create a two-tier Devon of urban versus rural.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of South West Devon and the surrounding area,

Declares that the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of local government in the county of Devon have not adequately taken account of local viewpoints; further declares that it will lead to a democratic deficit for rural areas, introduces a rural council area that is too large to effectively administer, will lead to a disparity between total council tax bills for rural compared to urban areas as parish precepts will continue to be charged for rural areas, will result in the prioritisation of urban needs over those of rural areas, and will represent a loss of identity for long-established rural communities.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to abandon its plans for local government reorganisation in the county of Devon.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003232]