We don't want to be Greater Stoke-on-Trent - MP

Dame Karen Bradley joined Conservative councillors and activist to protest the measures outside Moorlands House in Leek

An MP says people want to keep their area's distinct identity and maintain local decision-making amid plans to merge smaller councils into larger unitary authorities.

Dame Karen Bradley, who represents the Staffordshire Moorlands, said she was concerned the government wanted to force the area to become part of a "Greater Stoke-on-Trent" against the will of residents.

The government said simplifying local government and transferring more powers away from London would help drive economic growth.

Proposals for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have not yet been shared publicly.

At present, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is responsible for things like bin collections, planning permission, leisure centres and licensing.

Dame Karen said she was wanted to preserve the current two-council structure, saying the district and county authorities "work well together".

Staffordshire County Council is responsible for things like roads, libraries and schools – as well as adult's and children's social care.

The government said it wanted to merge areas where there are currently two types of local authority, meaning one council would cover a larger area and take care of all of the services currently shared out between the separate authorities.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the government would work with local leaders to deliver its plans - but where they were unable to agree a way forward, ministers would get the power to push the plans through.

Dame Karen believes that strategy is not acceptable and wants people to be given more ability to reject the proposals.

Her intervention comes after the leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Simon Tagg, recently said he was against the idea merging local authorities in Staffordshire.

She also thinks retaining local decision-making is the best option for people in her rural constituency.

"Nothing against the people in Stoke-on-Trent – great people – but they are not living in the Moorlands, they don't know what our problems are, they don't know what our issues are," she said.

"I want to make sure it's local people making those decisions."

She added: "I just think that people really care about the Moorlands, they do not want to lose the Moorlands – we do not want to be 'Greater Stoke-on-Trent', that is really important to us."