How hyperlocalism can help poorer parishes | Letters

How hyperlocalism can help poorer parishes | Letters

David Kennedy on strengthening community cohesion with an expansion of parish councils into the inner cities. Plus a letter from Gabriel Chanan

Your editorial (18 August) and the IPPR North report on hyperlocalism both suggest building on the parish council model. In larger towns and cities, parish and town councils tend to be in the wealthy suburbs. In Bradford, there are 21 parish or town councils – and only one is in the inner city. Ilkley, one of the richest towns in the district, has an annual budget of nearly £480,000. This money enables wealthier areas to protect themselves from cuts imposed on the district council by the Conservative government, allowing them to save facilities that are being closed in inner-city areas.

But the benefits are not just financial. Many people have a distant relationship with their local council. The reverse is true of parish and town councils, where people are likely to know the councillors and to appreciate the services, such as libraries or playgrounds, saved and managed by the parish council.

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