Heart of Wessex Combined Authority

On this map of Thomas Hardy's Wessex, the "Heart of Wessex" would be made up of Dorset (10), Somerset (30) and Wiltshire (37)

The Heart of Wessex Combined Authority is a proposed combined authority in south-west England. The proposal is linked to the English Devolution Bill, first proposed in 2024 by the Labour government.[1] The region would have a directly elected mayor.[2]

Background

In 2023, Dorset Council proposed to form a devolved authority named "Wessex" with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Somerset, North Somerset and Wiltshire councils.[3] The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

Proposed composition

In January 2025, following a vote by Wiltshire Council, the leaders of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire councils said they had written to the UK government to show support for devolution of powers to the proposed combined authority. This was despite reservations among Wiltshire councillors who felt that a mayor was "not right for a large rural area". The three leaders said they remained open to discussions with the councils of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), Swindon and North Somerset.[4][5]

In the same month, BCP councillors voted in favour of joining the three largely rural counties, rather than supporting a 'Hampshire and Solent' alternative comprising Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.[6]

Reception

In December 2024, Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade compared a proposed Wessex mayor to the Thomas Hardy character Jude the Obscure.[7]

References

1. "Council leaders welcome devolution plans to 'unlock greater powers and resources'". Dorset Echo. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
2. "Mayor for Dorset would be on the table in new deal, government says". Bournemouth Echo. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
3. "Dorset Council leader confirms devolution partnership plan". BBC News. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
4. "Councils confirm Heart of Wessex devolution bid despite concerns". BBC News. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
5. "Leaders welcome Devolution White Paper". Somerset Council. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
6. Simpson, Matt (16 January 2025). "BCP Council decides on biggest shake up in 50 years". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
7. "Wessex mayor would be Jude the Obscure, MP says". BBC News. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.