Campaign for Historic Counties Responds to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Government Consultation
The Campaign for Historic Counties has submitted its formal response to the government consultation on proposed unitary councils in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area.
While the consultation focuses on administrative boundaries, the Campaign’s submission stresses the importance of historic county identities. The area under review includes the historic counties of Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, and part of Northamptonshire.
The Campaign highlighted that the Office for National Statistics confirms these historic counties have not changed since the Middle Ages and were never abolished. They form the enduring geography of the country and should be recognised in official and public contexts.
The Campaign calls on decision-makers to ensure that any new council either adopts a neutral name or explicitly recognises all historic counties within its area. Using the name “Cambridgeshire” for a council covering only part of the county, plus parts of other counties, as has happened previously, undermines true county identities and risks confusion between administrative and historic geographical boundaries.
This principle applies to all proposals submitted by local councils, including those from Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire County, Huntingdonshire, Peterborough City, and Fenland councils.
The Campaign for Historic Counties continues to advocate for the recognition and use of historic counties as the foundation of England’s local geography, protecting the connection between communities and their historic identities.
Campaign for Historic Counties 