Английская Википедия:Fenland District

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Файл:Wisbech, North Brink - geograph.org.uk - 2801779.jpg

Wisbech, known as the "Capital of the Fens" is the largest settlement in the district

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

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.

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

Файл:High Street, Chatteris - geograph.org.uk - 2681793.jpg

Chatteris, one of the Fenland market towns

Файл:St Mary's Church, Whittlesey - geograph.org.uk - 3220349.jpg

Whittlesey, one of the Fenland market towns

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:

• Chatteris Urban District
• March Urban District
• North Witchford Rural District
• Wisbech Municipal Borough
• Wisbech Rural District
• Whittlesey Urban District

The new district was named Fenland, referencing its position within the Fens.

Governance

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.

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:

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

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2014 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
John Clark	Шаблон:Party name with colour	8 May 2014	22 Feb 2018
Chris Seaton	Шаблон:Party name with colour	22 Feb 2018	23 May 2019
Chris Boden	Шаблон:Party name with colour	23 May 2019

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:

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

The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at Fenland Hall in March. The original building had been built in 1909 as the county hall for the old Isle of Ely County Council.

Elections

Шаблон: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.

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'.

Parishes

Файл:War memorial and church in Elm near Wisbech - geograph.org.uk - 2883379.jpg

Elm, one of the many Fenland villages.

Шаблон:Also The whole district is divided into 16 civil parishes. The parish councils for Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech take the style "town council". Шаблон:Div col

• Benwick
• Chatteris (town)
• Christchurch
• Doddington
• Elm
• Gorefield
• Leverington
• Manea
• March (town)
• Newton-in-the-Isle
• Parson Drove
• Tydd St Giles
• Whittlesey (town)
• Wimblington
• Wisbech (town)
• Wisbech St Mary

Economy

The local economy has traditionally been built upon farming and food related industry. The food industry is now well established, and related processing, storage, packaging and distribution has 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.

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.

A proposal for a new Fenland rail link was agreed in June 2020.

Fenland council gave £370,400 to its chief executive Tim Pilsbury when he took early retirement in 2010–11.

Awareness and promotion

The term "Fen Tiger" is associated with the Fens. A flag with a tiger is now linked with this part of the county.

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 district. In recent years the Fenland Poet Laurate awards have been eligible for local poets.

Twin towns and sister cities

Fenland is twinned with:

• Nettetal in Kreis Viersen in Germany
• Cook County, New Zealand
• Sunshine Coast, Australia

See also

• Fenland Survey
• The Fens

External links

• Fenland District Council