Fenland District

Fenland is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. It was historically part of the Isle of Ely and borders the city of Peterborough to the northwest, Huntingdonshire to the west, and East Cambridgeshire to the southeast. It also borders the Lincolnshire district of South Holland to the north and the Norfolk district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk to the northeast. The administrative centre is in March.

Chatteris, one of the Fenland market towns

Fenland District
Non-metropolitan district
March, the second largest settlement in the district.
March, the second largest settlement in the district.
Fenland shown within Cambridgeshire
Fenland shown within Cambridgeshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countyCambridgeshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQMarch
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyFenland District Council
Area
 • Total210.99 sq mi (546.45 km2)
 • Rank84th (of 309)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total102,462
 • Rank238th (of 309)
 • Density490/sq mi (190/km2)
 • Ethnicity
98.6% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code12UD (ONS)
E07000010 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTL417969
Fenland District Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Leader
Chris Boden, Conservative
since 23 May 2019
Structure
Seats39 councillors[1]
Political groups
  Conservative (27)
  Independent (9)
  Liberal Democrats (2)
  Green (1)
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
2 May 2019
Meeting place

Fenland Hall, County Road, March, PE15 8NQ
Website
www.fenland.gov.uk
Wisbech, known as the "Capital of the Fens" is the largest settlement in the district

The district covers around 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) of mostly agricultural land in the extremely flat Fens. The population of the district was 98,262 at the 2011 Census.[2]

Whittlesey, one of the Fenland market towns

It was formed on 1 April 1974, with the merger of the Borough of Wisbech, Chatteris Urban District, March Urban District, Whittlesey Urban District, North Witchford Rural District and Wisbech Rural District.[3] In 2022 the council was reported to be the second most complained about in the county.[4]

Settlements

Its council covers the market towns of Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech (which is often called the "Capital of the Fens").[5] Other villages and hamlets in the district include:

Elm, one of the many Fenland villages and one of the districts largest settlements

The latter includes Guyhirn and Parson Drove.[6]

Governance
See also: Fenland local elections

Fenland District Council is elected every four years, with currently (2020) thirty nine councillors. Since 1976 the Conservative Party has held control of the council, apart from a period after 1995 when Labour had control, the Conservatives regained a majority at the 1999 election. As of June 2022, the council composition is:[7]

Party Councillors
Conservative Party 27
Independent 9
Liberal Democrats 2
Green Party 1

In the May 2019 elections, twelve councillors – all Conservative – were returned without a vote to Fenland District Council, which topped the Electoral Reform Society's list of 'rotten boroughs'.[8]

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.[9]

A proposal for a new Fenland rail link was agreed in June 2020.[10]

Fenland council gave £370,400 to its chief executive Tim Pilsbury when he took early retirement in 2010–11.[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.[12]

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.[13]

Twin towns and sister cities

Fenland is twinned with:

Further reading

Merrison, Karen (2022). Secret Fens. Amberley.

See also

References
  1. "Councillors". Fenland District Council. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  2. "Non Metropolitan District Council population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 – SI 1972/2038
  4. "Fenland". www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. "Wisbech Community Network". Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  6. "Town and Parish contacts". fenland.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. "Councillors". Fenland District Council. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  8. Elworthy, John (20 April 2019). "Fenland named by Electoral Reform Society as top of their 'rotten boroughs' on two counts – and candidate apathy is blamed for putting us there". Cambs Times. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. "St. George's Fayre". fenland.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  10. "Historic Agreement". wisbechstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  11. Swinford, Steven; Walton, Gregory (1 January 2013). "£100,000 Pay-Offs For Council Chiefs". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  12. "Fenland". British County Flags. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  13. "Poetry Winners". Fenland Citizen. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.

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