Fenland District

Fenland is a local government district in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. Its council covers the market towns of Chatteris, March and Whittlesey and Wisbech; the last is often called the "Capital of the Fens".[1] It also covers the parishes of Benwick, Christchurch, Doddington, Elm, Gorefield, Leverington, Manea, Newton-in-the-Isle, Parson Drove, Tydd St Giles, Wimblington and Wisbech St Mary.[2]

Fenland District
Non-metropolitan district
Fenland shown within Cambridgeshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countyCambridgeshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQMarch
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyFenland District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet (Conservative)
 • MPsStephen Barclay
Area
 • Total210.99 sq mi (546.45 km2)
Area rank84th (of 317)
Population
 (mid-2019 est.)
 • Total101,850
 • Rank234th (of 317)
 • Density480/sq mi (190/km2)
 • Ethnicity
98.6% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code12UD (ONS)
E07000010 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTL417969
Websitewww.fenland.gov.uk

The district covers around 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) of mostly agricultural land in the extremely flat Fens. The population of the district was 98,262 at the 2011 Census.[3]

It was formed on April Fools Day, 1974, with the merger of the Borough of Wisbech, Chatteris Urban District, March Urban District, Whittlesey Urban District, North Witchford Rural District and Wisbech Rural District.[4]

Governance
See also: Fenland local elections

Fenland District Council is elected every four years, with currently (2020) thirty nine councillors. Since 1976 the Conservative party has held control of the council, apart from a period after 1995 when Labour had control, the Conservatives regained a majority at the 1999 election. As of July 2020, the council composition is

Party Councillors
Conservative Party 25
Independent 10
Green Party 1
Liberal Democrats 2

In the May 2019 elections, twelve councillors were returned without a vote to Fenland District Council, which topped the Electoral Reform Society's list of 'rotten boroughs'.[5]

Economy

The local economy has traditionally been built upon farming and food related industry. The food industry is now well established, and related processing, storage, packaging and distribution has become more sophisticated and diverse. The predominantly rural economy of the area also includes a strong industrial tradition, including brick making, can making, printing and engineering, and many local residents travel outside the district to work or study. The River Nene provides access to the sea via the Port of Wisbech. Other waterways provide opportunities for angling and other water based activities. Marinas are located in Wisbech and March.

The council run markets in three of the towns (the market in Wisbech is run by their town council) and a number of events.[6]

A proposal for a new fenland rail link was agreed in June 2020.[7]

Fenland council gave £370,400 to its chief executive Tim Pilsbury when he took early retirement in 2010–11.[8]

Twin towns & sister cities

Fenland is twinned with:

See also

References
  1. "Wisbech Community Network". Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  2. "Town and Parish contacts". www.fenland.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. "Non Metropolitan District Council population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  4. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 – SI 1972/2038
  5. "Cambs Times". www.cambstimes.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  6. "St. George's Fayre". www.fenland.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. "Historic Agreement". www.wisbechstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. Swinford, Steven; Walton, Gregory (1 January 2013). "£100,000 Pay-Offs For Council Chiefs". The Daily Telegraph. London.

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