Pair call for parish to be split

Campaigners in part of Telford have begun a bid for independence by calling for a split with their neighbours and the right to have their own parish council, it was revealed.

About 600 people in Dawley have put their names to a petition calling for the current Great Dawley Parish Council boundary to be divided. They want separate parish councils for Dawley and Malinslee.

The campaign is spearheaded by Telford & Wrekin Council members Vic Tonks and Helen Williams.

Councillors Tonks and Williams, both members of the Telford & Wrekin People’s Association, argue the population of Great Dawley has increased substantially since the parish boundary was drawn up about 20 years ago and councillors are stretched serving residents over such a large area.

Councillor Tonks said: “By creating two new parish councils we would be able to fight for the specific needs of our community and there would be less confusion as to what side wants what.”

Councillor Williams said: “We have one boundary for borough, one for parish and yet another one for the police. It is no wonder people are confused when asking for help from one or all of them.

“To separate the parish council would go some way to making the boundaries less confusing for all.”

Telford & Wrekin Council chief executive Steve Wellings confirmed the authority could consider forming a new parish if a valid petition was received and he said the Dawley one was well above the legal threshold required.

He said: “The council will be validating these signatures, and, assuming these are correct, Telford & Wrekin Council would then conduct a community governance review on this issue.”

Mr Wellings said extensive consultation would be needed and changes would be unlikely to take effect before the next round of parish elections in 2011.

By Simon Hardy