Yahoo News The bizarre plan that could see a tourist hotspot, 28 miles away, join Manchester
It’s known for being a quaint spa town in the heart of the Peak District, so the idea it could join Greater Manchester has baffled locals.
Sitting almost 30 miles from Manchester city centre, Buxton is the last place you’d expect to become the newest town in the city-region. The tourist hotspot is one of the towns in the High Peak region of Derbyshire, which is set to see significant change in a major restructure of the council setup.
What exactly will happen is still up in the air, but Buxtonians have made it as clear as their famous water it’s not for them.
The local authority shake-up would see smaller councils within large counties, such as Lancashire, be merged as the two-tier system of local government is scrapped. It could mean areas like High Peak join larger authorities like Greater Manchester.
The High Peak MP, Jon Pearce, said it's a 'no-brainer' for his constituency to join Greater Manchester. Mr Pearce wants High Peak to stay together in this scenario, which would mean Buxton would be brought into the fold alongside towns like Glossop, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge.
The Manchester Evening News has already visited two other High Peak towns over this issue. In Glossop there was appetite to join Greater Manchester; but Chapel-en-le-Frith was fervently against it.
In fact, opinion is so strong that a Facebook page has even been set up calling to ‘Keep High Peak in Derbyshire’.
In Buxton, the topic hasn’t generated the same heat as it has in Chapel but the sheer distance they live from Manchester makes it unthinkable, say locals.
Tony Jerbis, taking a stroll through Pavilion Gardens, told the M.E.N: “It shouldn’t happen. That would be a common thought around here.
“Buxton is a long way away from Manchester. We feel like we’re Derbyshire here.
“We should have DE on our postcode for Derby rather than the SK for Stockport.”
Traveling through the gardens, past the Natural Mineral Baths towards the town centre, the issue of the SK postcode is a common irritant for locals.
Mark Voigt said: “I totally disagree with the idea. I see Glossopians liking it because of how close they are, but not here.
“Buxton doesn’t have the infrastructure such as doctors and dentists etc to deal with that connection. Everything would feel too stretched out geographically.
“This is Derbyshire, not greater Manchester, even if we do have a Stockport postcode.”
As Mark is talking a couple walk past on the high street overhearing the conversation.
“We don’t want it,” the Buxtonian exclaimed. “We’re miles away from Manchester here.”
Standing opposite Buxton Baths amidst the plethora of stone buildings in the town surrounded by the Peak District National Park, it’s clear to see why over a million tourists come knocking each year. The numerous festivals and events the town puts on is the reason many keep coming back.
For some locals, the attraction of tourists to the area is the reason this idea fielded by their MP would be more beneficial to Greater Manchester than Buxton. Many told the M.E.N they thought the idea would just mean more money in the pockets of GM councils to spend out of the town.
Fresh out of the gym and on his way home, Michael Heathcote said: “I don’t see the advantages of it all. I saw it on Facebook where it was all kicking off.
“A lot of people won’t know what the point is. I think there is a Derbyshire identity here.
“I can’t see it being backed by the people. It’s a rural area here, everyone knows that, it’s not a city or an urban area. It won’t be a hit.
“It’s busy here and it’s flat out busy in the summer for tourists. I just feel the cultural differences are so big, because towns around Manchester don’t have the same vibe.
“Greater Manchester would probably benefit more from taking us on really. It just wouldn’t be right.”
The common thought in Glossop was that a more integrated health system and better transport connectivity could come with the move. In Buxton, they don’t buy that as they are simply so far away from the city-region.
For retiree Sue Darwin, she feels the shake up could ruin the status quo, and impact on the town’s individual identity. Although she admits healthcare and getting to bigger hospitals is an issue locally.
“My first reaction is no way,” she told the M.E.N. “But I don’t know the advantages and disadvantages of it.
“I’ve been here for four years now but I’ve always thought of it as a place on its own. We’re not under a mayor or anything here.
“In terms of the council they’re pretty good at how they deal with things. The downside of the isolation is not as much access to big hospitals, which is a pain.
“We’re on the border of different regions so people have to go to many different places for various healthcare problems. To Sheffield or to Staffordshire or to Manchester for example.
“But on joining GM, I think it could be that cash just gets spread thinner. From my point of view it’s pretty here, and I want to maintain the status quo.”
How things will work for the council shake-up
Buxton is among the towns that form High Peak Borough Council, which is currently part of Derbyshire County Council. As the county council prepares to submit their merger proposals, one option High Peak could look at is joining with Tameside or Stockport councils in Greater Manchester.
The area’s MP, Jon Pearce, expressed his desire for the area to join Greater Manchester at the end of 2024 - sparking a fierce debate locally. The Labour MP said he would not like to see High Peak Borough Council split up and would prefer for the whole borough to merge with Tameside council.
However, Mr Pearce said he is 'entirely open minded' if there is a 'better idea', such as part of High Peak joining Stockport.
It all comes off the back of the government unveiling its English Devolution White Paper. The document, published on December 16, said that all two tier areas and smaller or failing unitary authorities will be expected to develop reorganisation plans.
For most areas, this will mean creating new unitary councils with a population of 500,000 or more, according to the White Paper - although decisions will be made on a 'case-by-case basis'. The government says that closing and merging councils could save £2bn.
The first new unitary, or single-tier authorities, are set to be created by April 2027.
Despite differing opinions over the idea of High Peak joining with Greater Manchester, there are many hurdles that would need to be overcome to get there. It would need sign off from multiple councils, government agreement, and it would also need to make sense in terms of population sizes.
What High Peak Council says
Leader of High Peak Borough Council, Coun Anthony McKeown said previously: “Whilst we knew the White Paper was coming we didn’t have any detailed idea of its contents around local government reorganisation.
“We therefore need time to study the proposals and consider what is best for the residents and businesses in High Peak before making any further comment.
“As a council we have fully engaged with devolution so far and we are still in the early days of working with, and being represented on, the East Midlands County Combined Authority. We also have our successful strategic alliance with our neighbours at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council already delivering efficiently and effectively for our respective areas.”
What Derbyshire County Council says
Coun Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council said previously: “We welcome reform of local government where it could deliver real savings, enhance local democracy, and simplify access to council services.
“It’s early days, there are still some conversations to be had within the council, and we need to look at the details of the government’s proposals. But if the principle of combining tiers of councils with a minimum half-million population is upheld and the approach is sensible then merging two-tier authorities like ours into a single county unitary council could potentially provide wider benefits for our local communities.
“We’re ready to work with Derby City Council and district and borough colleagues to shape the proposals if the government’s plans are sufficiently directive and they align with what is best for Derbyshire.
