Erewash could switch counties in council shake-up

Council leaders in the Derbyshire borough of Erewash are considering the idea of making it part of Nottinghamshire in an upcoming shake-up of local government.

Erewash Borough Council, which covers the towns of Long Eaton and Ilkeston along with villages like Breaston, Draycott and Borrowash, is officially within the Derbyshire boundary but sits between the two counties.

The authority, alongside other borough and district councils in England, is set to disappear as part of government plans to merge councils and streamline services.

Some Derbyshire leaders have expressed concern about the proposals, which the government hopes would see the first new councils in place by 2027.

James Dawson, the Labour leader of Erewash Borough Council, told the BBC that while he is staying neutral for now and no decisions had been made, given Erewash's geographical location, there are reasons the idea of joining Nottinghamshire would make sense.

"[Nottinghamshire] is part of the district's geographical location," he said.

"Erewash is currently within the Nottingham core market housing area, not the Derby one.

"Certainly on the eastern side of the district, we are classed as being part of the greater Nottingham area.

"There's travel-to-work areas, there's the economic geography.

"Where do people identify more closely with? The ultimate aim of all of this is getting the best for residents."

However, the former Conservative MP for Erewash, Maggie Throup, told the BBC she would not be in favour of the idea.

"I am against crossing county boundaries. We don't want to lose our identity... Erewash is in Derbyshire, fair and square," she said.

"It's important that we have that Derbyshire identity. I am very proud to say I live in Derbyshire."

It is thought that while a recently mooted option for High Peak to join the Greater Manchester area would be unlikely because High Peak is part of the East Midlands Combined County Authority area, it is less clear whether boroughs like Erewash could shift to another county that is within the regional boundaries.

It is expected that councils will get more clarity from the government by the end of the week.

The proposal is one of a number of options in which Erewash could fit into as part of the reorganisation plans.

The Conservative leader of Derbyshire County Council, Barry Lewis, has already submitted plans to the government for a county-wide proposal that would take in all of Derbyshire on its current boundaries, keeping the city of Derby separate.

He told the BBC considerations about Erewash joining Nottinghamshire were "really concerning" and said he would "fight to ensure that we retain [Erewash]".

"I'm pretty sure the people of Erewash very much identify with being in Derbyshire," he said.

Councils have been told to submit draft proposals by March.

Erewash's Labour MP Adam Thompson said while he had no strong opinions either way, he was looking forward to having a "deep discussion".

"Having spoken to lots of [local people] on doorsteps, I know that some people in Long Eaton and the surrounding areas identify more closely with Nottingham city than they do necessarily with Derby or Derbyshire," he said.

"They've got an 'NG' postcode and spend a lot of time in the city.

"While other people in Ilkeston and the surrounding areas, maybe they identify more closely with Derbyshire."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.