Story perspectives

Hertfordshire to Replace County Council with Four New Councils

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Steve Reed, local government secretary, announced that Hertfordshire will be split into four councils of roughly 300,000 residents each, ending the county council and ten districts.
The councils are North West (Dacorum, St Albans); South West (Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford); Central (North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield); East (Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, Royston, Northaw, Cuffley).
The plan, favored by districts, sparked a dispute that nearly broke the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in Welwyn Hatfield.

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Story summary

Steve Reed, local government secretary, announced that Hertfordshire will be split into four councils of roughly 300,000 residents each, ending the county council and ten districts.
The councils are North West (Dacorum, St Albans); South West (Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford); Central (North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield); East (Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, Royston, Northaw, Cuffley).
The plan, favored by districts, sparked a dispute that nearly broke the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in Welwyn Hatfield.