A long-time sore for county lovers has been the inclusion of the Spelthorne area of Middlesex within the local government “county” of “Surrey”. Now a public consultation on Proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey has been opened, with Surrey County Council set to be abolished and replaced by two or more unitary authorities. This presents a great opportunity to properly reflect the Middlesex identity of Spelthorne in the new unitary authority’s name. The Association of British Counties (ABC) favours a name along the lines of ‘Middlesex-Surrey Thamesside Council’, ‘Middlesex-Surrey Borders Council’ or ‘North Surrey and Spelthorne Council’. Make sure you have your say.
The Government’s English Devolution plans will see the remaining two-tier local government areas (i.e. county council and district council) be replaced by a system of unitary local government. This could aid ABC’s aim to see local government have an identity totally separate from the historic counties. But only if the new unitary authorities are given names which do not make inappropriate, unqualified use of historic county names. And if the words ‘county‘ and ‘county council‘, as used with local government terminology, are replaced by ‘council area‘ and just ‘council‘.
The ancient hundred of Spelthorne occupies the south-western part of Middlesex, in the corner between the Rivers Thames and Colne. The hundred was in existence by the time of the Domesday survey of 1086. It is known for the riverside towns of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames, for Kempton Park racecourse and the world-famous Shepperton Studios.
The London Government Act 1963 placed most of Middlesex within “Greater London” for the administrative purposes of that act. However, around 60% of the Spelthorne hundred (specifically the Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames urban districts) was made part of the administrative county of “Surrey”, other parts of the hundred being placed into the London boroughs of Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow and Hillingdon.
The Local Government Act 1972 formed the borough of Spelthorne from the part of Middlesex under Surrey County Council. Poyle was arbitrarily added to Slough unitary authority in 1995. The use of the ancient name Spelthorne for the borough did at least do something to reflect the Middlesex identity of the area. Despite sixty years of confusion, the Middlesex identity of Spelthorne remains strong.
Although the demise of Surrey County Council provides a great opportunity for the Middlesex identity of Spelthorne to be brought to the fore, it could see the name Spelthorne, with its Middlesex association, cease to be used within local government. It is vital, therefore, that the successor unitary authority is named to reflect the Middlesex identity of this area.
The Proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey consultation focuses on two alternative scenarios for future unitary local government in the area:
- A three-council model of ‘East Surrey‘, ‘West Surrey‘ and ‘North Surrey‘;
- A two-council model of ‘East Surrey‘ and ‘West Surrey‘.
Unless challenged, these proposed council names are likely to be reflected in the subsequent legislation. Whilst the shadow councils elected in May 2026 will be able to amend the council names, it is better to promote alternative names at the consultation stage. We detail our suggestions below.
In relation to the three-council model:
- ABC has no issues with the names ‘East Surrey‘ or ‘West Surrey‘, although ‘East Surrey‘ might be more accurately named ‘South-East Surrey‘;
- ABC objects to the name ‘North Surrey‘, this council being the combined area of the current district councils of Spelthorne, Runnymede and Elmbridge. Around one-third of the population of this proposed council and one-quarter of its area would lie in Middlesex. A better name must be found which does not continue the pretence that this area is part of Surrey. Possibilities include ‘Middlesex-Surrey Thamesside‘, ‘Middlesex-Surrey Borders‘ or ‘North Surrey and Spelthorne‘. Such a name would give this council a more accurate, distinct and appealing identity than ‘North Surrey‘.
In relation to the two-council model:
- ABC has no issues with the name ‘East Surrey‘, although it might be more accurately named ‘South-East Surrey‘;
- ABC objects to the name ‘West Surrey‘ being used for an area which includes the Spelthorne area of Middlesex. A name along the lines of ‘West Surrey and Spelthorne‘ would be more appropriate.
We would be very interested to hear alterative suggestions for possible names for these proposed new unitary councils. We encourage everyone with an interest to submit a response to the consultation. Full details are in the How to Respond section of the consultation document. The deadline is 5th August 2025. The consultation is based around a series of questions. Our response in relation to council names will be made under Question 6.
“6) Has the proposal been informed by local views, and does it consider issues of local identity and cultural and historic importance?“
ABC has long argued for ending the link between the office of lord-lieutenant and local government. The lord-lieutenants should be appointed directly to the historic counties. We will also be making this point in our submission. This would see the creation of a lord-lieutenant of Middlesex and the lord-lieutenant of Surrey being appointed to the real county of Surrey.
We recommended the Middlesex Heritage Facebook Group to all lovers of Middlesex.
Banner picture courtesy of Shepperton Village Fair.
2 thoughts on “Save Our Spelthorne”
I doubt those names you are suggesting for the new Unitary authority covering Spelthorne would work, certainly not if ‘Surrey’ is divided into two unitaries rather than three, as the western one, which would include Spelthorne, would stretch all the way to the Hampshire and West Sussex borders. ‘Thameside’ could only apply to the northernmost boroughs within it, and ‘Borders’ is too vague. As things stand the new authority is most likely to be called ‘West Surrey’. All of the boroughs and districts in ‘East Surrey’ (Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge, Mole Valley) have always been in the historic county of Surrey, and are mostly places that were historically referred to as East Surrey (albeit not all of East Surrey). All the ‘West Surrey’ boroughs apart from Spelthorne (i.e Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Woking, Guildford, Waverley) have always been in Surrey.
Thanks Andy. I agree that if the Government goes with the three-unitary model, that will make our efforts of seeking to get Spelthorne’s Middlesex identity recognised in the new council name far more likely to succeed.