Dissolving historic part of Nottinghamshire 'step too far' as plan could be scrapped

Plans that would have seen a historic area of Nottinghamshire wiped off the map could be scrapped after being described as a "step too far." The plans would have seen the parish of Greasley being split into four, with Nuthall, Brinsley, Watnall and Eastwood all gaining parts of the area.

It means the Greasley name would have disappeared and that the parish council there - which runs two parks, 36 allotments and a sports and community centre - could have also been scrapped. A new report has now recommended that Broxtowe Borough Council, which proposed the plans, should leave Greasley in place.

The area is mentioned in the Domesday book and was hugely influential in the work of the celebrated author D.H. Lawrence. Lying around six miles north west of Nottingham, Greasley contains the villages of Giltbrook, Newthorpe and Watnall.

There is no Greasley village, though there is extensive evidence that one existed in the medieval period. The parish of Greasley has stood in its current form for over 100 years and was the subject of a 'community governance review', with the plans to dissolve it first being revealed in May.

The group that has looked in detail at the plans has now recommended that Greasley should remain. The report is being presented at meeting on November 25 and then the final call will have to be made by a full meeting of Broxtowe Borough Council.

Louise Turgoose, the clerk of Greasley Parish Council, hopes that final confirmation will come before the end of the year. The clerk said: "We're still waiting for the final decision but we're really, really hoping that this is the end of the road. It's made all the staff very happy, there were people going into Christmas who were not sure what they'd be going into in the new year.

"We had no problem with making the boundaries more suitable, so that they weren't running through people's gardens and things like that. Dissolving the whole parish was a step too far."

Campaigners against Greasley being dissolved previously said they were considering the launch of a judicial review if plans went ahead. A judicial review sees a court ruling on whether decisions or actions by a public body were taken lawfully, with the potential for such decisions to be invalidated.

The report of the 'task and finish' group looking into the plans now says: "The consultation responses overwhelmingly demonstrate that [the plan] is not considered to be in the interests of the community and reflects the community considers there will be a negative impact on community cohesion if the council were to proceed with this. Furthermore, the council could be at risk of legal challenge, and cost if they proceed."

Councillor Elizabeth Williamson, an independent councillor who represents Brinsley, Greasley and Watnall on Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "This report vindicates everything we have been saying. During this campaign, we have had our hand on history.

"I would like to pay tribute to the people of Greasley including members of the parish council including parish clerk, Louise Turgoose who stood as one and said no. I am confident that our campaign will be a success and we look forward to continuing to provide services that residents rely on for future generations."