Fenland District

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox settlement

Fenland is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. It was historically part of the Isle of Ely. The district covers around Template:Convert of mostly agricultural land in the extremely flat Fens. The council is based in Fenland Hall, in March. Other towns include Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech, the largest of the four.

Since 2017 the district has been a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, led by the directly-elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The neighbouring districts are East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, South Holland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the area of six former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The new district was named Fenland, referencing its position within the Fens.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Governance

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File:Wisbech, North Brink - geograph.org.uk - 2801779.jpg
Wisbech, known as the "Capital of the Fens" is the largest settlement in the district

Fenland District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Cambridgeshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Political control

The council has been under Conservative control since 1999.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name="compositions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="hold">Template:Cite news</ref>

Party in control Years
Template:Party name with colour 1974–1976
Template:Party name with colour 1976–1995
Template:Party name with colour 1995–1999
Template:Party name with colour 1999–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2014 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Alan Melton<ref name=8May2014/> Template:Party name with colour 8 May 2014
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8 May 2014 12 Jan 2018
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}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>|| Template:Party name with colour

22 Feb 2018 23 May 2019
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}}</ref>|| Template:Party name with colour

23 May 2019

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Party Councillors
Template:Party name with colour 35
Template:Party name with colour 6
Template:Party name with colour 2
Total 43

The next election is due in 2027.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Elections

Template:See also Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the 2019 election, twelve councillors – all Conservative – were returned unopposed to Fenland District Council, which topped the Electoral Reform Society's list of 'rotten boroughs'.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Premises

The council is based at Fenland Hall in March. The opening ceremony for the original building was held on 28 July 1909 as the county hall for the former Isle of Ely County Council.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Parishes

File:High Street, Chatteris - geograph.org.uk - 2681793.jpg
Chatteris, one of the Fenland market towns
File:St Mary's Church, Whittlesey - geograph.org.uk - 3220349.jpg
Whittlesey, one of the Fenland market towns
File:War memorial and church in Elm near Wisbech - geograph.org.uk - 2883379.jpg
Elm, one of the many Fenland villages.

Template:See also The whole district is divided into 16 civil parishes. The parish councils for Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech take the style "town council".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Economy

The local economy has traditionally been built upon farming and other food-related industries. The food industry is well-established, and related processing, storage, packaging and distribution have become more sophisticated and diverse. The predominantly rural economy of the area also includes a strong industrial tradition, including brewing, brick making, can making, pet food production, printing and engineering, and many local residents commute outside the district to work or study. The River Nene provides access to the sea via the Port of Wisbech. Other waterways provide opportunities for angling and other water based activities. Marinas are located in Wisbech and March.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The council run markets in three of the towns (the market in Wisbech is run by Wisbech Town Council) and a number of festivals and other events.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A proposal for a new Fenland rail link was agreed in June 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fenland council handed £370,400 to its chief executive, Tim Pilsbury, when he took early retirement in 2010–11.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awareness and promotion

The term "Fen Tiger" is associated with the Fens. A flag with a tiger emblazoned on it is now representative of this part of the county.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A number of organisations such as the Fenland Archaeological Society (FenArch) and publications such as the Fenland Citizen and The Fens magazine cover much or all of the district. The Wisbech & Fenland Museum for many years was the only museum covering the area. However, the district council ceased funding the museum in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Fenland Poet Laureate

Since 2012, local poets have been eligible for the Fenland Poet Laureate award. Laureates include:

  • Elaine Ewart (2012)<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Leanne Moden (2013)<ref name=":0" />
  • Poppy Kleiser (2014)<ref name=":0" />
  • Jonathan Totman (2015)<ref name=":0" />
  • Mary Livingstone (2016)<ref name=":0" />
  • Kate Caoimhe Arthur (2017)<ref name=":0" />
  • CJ Atkinson (2019)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Kim Allen (2020, 2021)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Qu Gao (2022)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Hannah Teasdale (2024)<ref name=":1" />
  • Felix Dawson (2025)<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Twin towns and sister cities

Fenland is twinned with:

Further reading

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See also

References

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