PLANS for Gloucestershire to become a devolved region are in the balance after proposals for Cotswold District Council to breakaway were announced.

The historic county of Gloucestershire has existed for 1,000 years with the Cotswolds being an integral part.

But now a proposal for a unitary council to be made up from Cotswold District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council could scupper plans for a devolved government for Gloucestershire.

Currently Forest of Dean District Council is working with other organisations to share its services. Gloucestershire County Council also works with other public services for the benefit of its residents.

A spokesman for Leadership Gloucestershire, the group spearheading the county's devolution bid, aid: “Our geography and structures already match. At the moment we have fantastic alignment of the county boundary with our seven councils, our health and social care services, our constabulary and its police and crime commissioner, a single local enterprise partnership, all of which benefit Gloucestershire residents.

“The aspiration of our devolution bid ‘We are Gloucestershire’ is to work ever closer on issues such as integration of health and social care services, children’s safeguarding, investing in our roads and promoting economic growth. "The possible loss of Cotswold District would be a step in the opposite direction.”

Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council said: “This situation doesn’t materially change any of our plans for shared services through our 2020 partnership. These are District Council services that will still need to be delivered in an efficient way.”