Nottinghamshire area with rich history could soon disappear from map as council 'fights for its life'

Plans could see the historic parish of Greasley in Broxtowe being completely dissolved

A historic area of Nottinghamshire is "fighting for its life" as new plans could see it completely wiped off the map. Greasley, in the Broxtowe area of the county, is mentioned in the Domesday book and was hugely influential in the work of the celebrated author D.H. Lawrence.

All this history could be lost if plans go ahead to dissolve the parish of Greasley and split it up into four. Those fighting against the plans have warned that if they go ahead, they may try and fight it in court.

Lying around six miles north west of Nottingham, Greasley contains the villages of Giltbrook, Newthorpe and Watnall. There is no Greasley village, though there is extensive evidence that one existed in the medieval period.

The parish of Greasley has stood in its current form for over 100 years and would be divided up under plans proposed by Broxtowe Borough Council. The Labour-led authority is carrying out a 'community governance review' to look at how different areas should be governed at the parish level.

The proposal to dissolve Greasley was first approved in May and is now subject to a final round of public consultation, which closes on October 6. Louise Turgoose is the clerk of Greasley Parish Council - a job she will lose if plans go ahead.

Ms Turgoose said: "We're fighting for our lives here. We're in the Domesday Book we're that old.

"Greasley is now served by 15 councillors whereas when we merge, that will be diminished. It will be much less of a voice."

Plans will see Greasley being split up so that one area would join the Nuthall parish, another would join the Brinsley parish, Watnall would become part of Kimberley and the rest of Greasley would be absorbed by Eastwood. One of the main concerns is what the plans will mean for services in Greasley, with the parish council currently managing two parks, 36 allotments and the Greasley Sports and Community Centre (GSCC).

Ms Turgoose says the GSCC is the only council-run leisure site in the north of Broxtowe following the closure of Kimberley School's swimming pool and gym in March 2024. Greasley Parish Council services would have to be maintained if plans go ahead, but there is concern about what they will look like.

Ms Turgoose said: "A lot of people are concerned because many people moved to our centre when Kimberley shut down. They say it's so much nicer and that the way we run it is much more community-oriented.

"Everyone chats to everyone else, everyone helps out everyone else." Services delivered at the centre range from over-60s groups to NHS blood donation pop-ups.

It is this community aspect of the centre which Ms Turgoose fears would be lost if it was to be taken on by a company like Liberty Leisure, a profit-making company delivering Broxtowe Borough Council leisure services. Another concern is the loss of heritage connected to the renowned author D.H. Lawrence.

Greasley Parish Council explains: "The parish encompasses key locations that inspired his works, preserving a unique cultural heritage that is recognized and cherished by literary enthusiasts worldwide. Should Greasley parish be dissolved, this rich historical connection risks being diminished, as the area's identity becomes subsumed under larger, less distinct town councils."

Just under 1,000 people have so far responded to Greasley Parish Council's consultation, available on its website, with only 36 backing plans for the area to be split up. With concerns about the way in which the process has been carried out so far, Ms Turgoose says she and others are considering a judicial review if plans go ahead.

A judicial review sees a court ruling on whether decisions or actions by a public body were taken lawfully, with the potential for such decisions to be invalidated. It is thought that a final decision on Greasley will be made in December at the earliest, with any decision being implemented in 2027.

Ms Turgoose added: "The borders around Eastwood and Kimberley ran through people's back gardens, so we agreed they needed tidying up. Unfortunately, the tiding up exercise appears to have become a dissolving a whole parish exercise."

A Broxtowe Borough Council spokesperson said: "The council is unable to comment further. As the consultation period has not yet ended, a decision has not been made."