How the map of Hampshire's councils is changing

Plans for the reorganisation of local councils in Hampshire have been announced by the government.

Fifteen councils that covered the county are to be replaced by five new all-encompassing, local authorities. Four for Hampshire as a whole, the fifth covering the Isle of Wight where nothing changes.

It means councils including Test Valley, Basingstoke and Deane and Hampshire County will cease to exist.

The government says its "Plan for Change" will save local taxpayers money.

There will be:

• A new North Hampshire authority taking in Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor
• A Mid Hampshire authority covering the most of the existing New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire
• A South West Hampshire council for Eastleigh, Southampton and the newly added Waterside villages, Totton and some parishes from Test Valley
• A South East Hampshire authority taking in Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport, Fareham and a few parishes currently in Winchester and East Hampshire

Who does what in local government can be confusing.

In a large part of Hampshire one council will empty wheelie bins while a different one will dispose of its contents.

And it is against this backdrop that the government decided to simplify matters.

It says that getting rid of most of Hampshire's current local authorities will improve services, with only the Isle of Wight Council staying as it is.

As you might expect, not everyone's on board with the changes.

Liberal Democrat Steve Pitt, the leader of Portsmouth City Council, says he is unhappy at being told to merge with Havant, Gosport and Fareham: "We are reviewing our position regarding a legal challenge to the government as although they have chosen the least worst option for Portsmouth from the options on the table, least worst is not good enough for our residents.

"I am livid that the government has completely ignored our repeated calls to keep their hands off Portsmouth."

The Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North Caroline Nokes, believes that moving parts of the New Forest into a newly created South West Hampshire authority, which will also take in Southampton, is a mistake: "The decision to carve up rural parts of Hampshire and stick them into an urban authority rides roughshod over the criteria they set themselves when they first started on the path to local government reorganisation."

While Labour Councillor Alex Winning, who's the Leader of Southampton City Council says: "This is the right decision for our area. Bringing together Southampton, Eastleigh, the Waterside and lower Test Valley creates a council that reflects the areas people already travel, work and build their lives in.

"It unites our port, airport and maritime industries, strengthens strategic planning, and ensures a balanced, diverse and sustainable population across the new authority."

None of the newly created local authorities are expected to come into being until April 2028.