Totnes Town Council will hold an extraordinary meeting next week to discuss proposed Local Government Reorganisation plans and their potential impact on part of Bridgetown.

The meeting will take place in the Guildhall on Monday, August 10, at 6.45pm and members of the public are being encouraged to attend.

According to Totnes Town Council recent proposals have prompted widespread discussion in the town, particularly over suggested new unitary authority boundaries affecting part of Bridgetown. The boundary changes form part of wider Local Government Reorganisation plans, which will see district and county councils replaced by new unitary authorities from 2028.

The council said it is aware of the strong views held across the community and is encouraging residents to take part in the discussion and make their opinions known.

The Town Council stressed, however, that the final decision on the boundaries does not rest with Totnes Town Council, Berry Pomeroy Parish Council, Devon County Council, Torbay Council or South Hams District Council. Instead, the Government will determine the new unitary boundaries as part of the reorganisation process.

The council says the debate extends beyond council tax boundaries and includes how local services will be delivered, how communities are represented, how funding arrangements operate and whether established communities should be divided by administrative boundaries.

Last week South Devon MP Caroline Voaden launched a petition to ask PM Andy Burnham to reverse Labour’s carve-up of Devon’s local authorities, speaking about the LGR decision she said: “Let’s face it: Labour chose the worst option on the table. On every major test, this plan was rejected.”

Residents planning to attend are advised that the Guildhall has limited capacity, although the council says it will do its best to accommodate as many people as possible.

The agenda and further information are available on the Town Council website: https://tinyurl.com/2ye7m7zs