A parish split in Wootton and East Hunsbury has been approved by councillors.
Last month, residents of both areas voted by a majority of 670 to 657 to split Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council into two separate authorities.
And following a lengthy debate, the split was approved by members of Northampton Borough Council at the Guildhall tonight.
Ten members of the public spoke on the issue, and the vast majority were opposed to the split.
But the vote was carried, although three Conservative councillors were in opposition.
Wootton’s new council will be known as Wootton, Wootton Fields and Simpson Manor Parish Council.
Ahead of the meeting, some current members of the parish council said the split could lead to events such as the Walk in the Park music festival being scrapped and funding for PCSOs being removed. Others claimed senior Conservative politicians were trying to block the split.
Wootton parish council member, Liam Costello, one of the driving forces behind the proposed split, told the meeting he had seen an email from a senior Conservative borough councillor which showed the party is against the split.
Mr Costello said the email outlined fears the split could cost the party seats at future borough and county council elections, and said it was “blatant gerrymandering” by the Conservatives.
Mr Costello has campaigned on the basis that a split would enable both areas to respond better to issues affecting their residents, and that it would lead to a reduction in council tax.
The majority of the other speakers were opposed to the split.
Wootton village resident Mike Penny said: “What is conspicuous by its absence is any discussion about the cost implications of the restructure.”
Danny Moody, chief executive of Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils, said: “It is a dark day when one local authority proposes the abolition of another local authority.”
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