In a move supported by more than half of respondents to a consultation, Tewkesbury Borough Council has voted in favour of becoming North Gloucestershire Borough Council from December 2024.
The council says the change will mean all its towns and villages — including Bishop’s Cleeve, Churchdown, Highnam and Brockworth — are better represented, at the same time raising the profile of the borough regionally and nationally to attract more investment and drive growth.
Concerns were raised about the current name causing confusion between Tewkesbury town and the wider borough, along with the 'outdated nature' of the council's current logo, during discussions around the borough's new Council Plan earlier this year.
North Gloucestershire Borough Council was proposed as it avoids prioritising Tewkesbury town, which only accounts for less than three per cent of the borough's 160-square-mile geographical area and around 10 per cent of its population.
The move was discussed at a council meeting in May 2024 and, following a ten-week public consultation between May and July, councillors approved the change on Tuesday 3 September 2024, with 26 votes for and eight against.
The council gathered 1,608 responses during the consultation — making it one of the most extensive it has ever conducted — with more than 86 per cent of respondents saying they understood the rationale behind the proposed name change; and more than 58 expressing their support for the change.
A phased rollout of the change, which includes informing relevant authorities, residents and businesses as well as updating digital and physical assets with the new name and logo, will begin in December 2024.
Council leader Richard Stanley said: 'The name North Gloucestershire Borough Council will help us to raise our profile both regionally and nationally, promoting economic development and attracting investment, while maintaining our unique identity as a borough. It will demonstrate our support for the entire borough, and show every resident that we are their council.
'In case there is any doubt, Tewkesbury town will retain its name and its position as a historically rich and culturally significant location.
'I’m proud to say that we will be keeping costs to an absolute minimum and making the introduction of our new name as smooth as possible for our residents and businesses.'
