Historians urge caution over High Peak county switch

People in a former Derbyshire village that switched counties have warned High Peak residents about a proposed move to join Greater Manchester.

As part of a major national shake-up of local government, it has been suggested that an expanded Greater Manchester council could control the High Peak area rather than the existing borough and county councils.

Local MP Jon Pearce has backed the merger, describing it as a "no-brainer".

But some people living in Mosborough, which became part of Sheffield six decades ago, said High Peak residents faced losing their identity if the move went ahead.

Mosborough was a Derbyshire village until 1967 when it became part of Sheffield and therefore part of South Yorkshire.

Linda Taylor, 74, who is a member of the Mosborough History Group, said: "They did not like it at all back in the day. That is why they went down to London to protest.

"Mosborough was part of the Eckington Parish and Eckington didn't move and Killamarsh didn't move - but Mosborough, Halfway and Beighton moved into Sheffield.

"They were just Derbyshire people and they didn't want to become Yorkshire people."

Her brother, Philip Staton, who is chairman of the history group, warned residents the move would benefit Manchester more than the High Peak.

"I would imagine it would be because of the land," he said. "Manchester is spreading and they need more spaces for houses.

"I think if you use Mosborough as an example it would be to provide housing [for people living in Sheffield]."

In December, the government published plans to create more one-tier local authorities in England and remove many borough and district councils in a bid to streamline services.

Since then a Facebook group called "Keep the High Peak in Derbyshire" has been formed by people objecting to any move to realign it with Greater Manchester.

Peter Bones, who has lived in Buxton for 45 years, is among those firmly against the idea.

He said: "I think it is terrible - I really, really don't want to be part of Greater Manchester, because this area has its own identity

"I think it would get lost in the decision-making [process in Greater Manchester]. I can't see any advantage in it."

But Adam Crowe, who moved to Buxton from Manchester in 2021, said he could see the logic to the proposal.

"There are a lot of reasons why we [people in the High Peak] have connections with Greater Manchester already," he said.

"We go to Manchester for shopping, for education, for healthcare. I think there are very few people who travel south in Derbyshire for those things.

"So we are already very closely linked I believe."

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