Plans to split village spark anger from residents

Plans unveiled last week by Medway Council shows Wilmington could be split in two by the A2

Plans to split a village between two local authorities has sparked anger from local residents.

Medway Council is proposing that Wilmington, which currently falls under Dartford Borough Council's area, could be split in two by the A2.

Under the proposed boundary changes outlined by the Labour-run authority, one part could be in a new north unitary, and the other in an authority in the west.

A local Conservative councillor urged the Medway leadership to "kill" the idea.

Wilmington is one of a number of communities which could see changes under local government reforms.

A series of proposals will be sent to the local government minister, Jim McMahon, later this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced last December she wants Kent to abolish its 14 councils, including Dartford, and replace them with a much smaller number of much larger unitary authorities.

One local resident, who has lived in Wilmington for 42 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We love our village and we want it to stay as one and not split in two. It worries me."

'Compliant'

Conservative Dartford borough councillor, George Holt, said: "It's someone drawing lines on a map from very far away without understanding the consequences. It will cut the village in half. It is completely unacceptable.

"Kill it – it's a bad proposal. Go and try again."

Labour's Medway Council leader, Vince Maple, said: "Of course people will have different views on every map.

"Our map is compliant with the rules the government set for us."