I am joining the call for Essex residents to have a say on the proposed ending of both Essex County Council and Uttlesford District Council. A new campaign, Your Essex, Your Say has been created to demand that the Government give our county a say in what happens with our local democracy. You can sign the petition calling for the referendum here. You can read my previous posts where I have been critical of the planned mergers by central government here:
- THE LONDONISATION OF OUR POLITICS (https://uttlesforddistrict.com/2026/04/10/the-londonisation-of-our-politics/)
- UTTLESFORD TO MERGE WITH HARLOW AND EPPING (https://uttlesforddistrict.com/2026/03/25/uttlesford-to-merge-with-harlow-and-epping-to-become-new-west-essex-council/)
I’m not happy about merging with Harlow because I don’t want this to be the thin edge of the wedge, I suspect that Harlow has a higher council tax cost due to the extra facilities available to the community.
The voters in Uttlesford should be consulted on this merger, cost saving is always a consideration but I think that the majority of what used to happen at the council offices now happens by the staff working remotely.
We have an excellent town council team for maintaining communal areas and wouldn’t want to see this diluted in any way.
I have already voted for your conservative values.
Many thanks and good luck on the 7th.
David.