Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are set to join a wider Wessex strategic authority, with an elected mayor and more regional decision making planned. Plans for an elected Wessex mayor have been confirmed for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The proposed Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority would also cover Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, and would coordinate powers and funding transferred from Whitehall, with the aim of bringing some decisions closer to local communities. Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade welcomed the confirmation, saying it was “fantastic” that the area would
Plans for an elected Wessex mayor have been confirmed for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The proposed Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority would also cover Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, and would coordinate powers and funding transferred from Whitehall, with the aim of bringing some decisions closer to local communities.
Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade welcomed the confirmation, saying it was “fantastic” that the area would get a strategic authority, with a mayor due to be elected in 2028.
She said the plan followed work by BCP, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire councils after Wessex was not included in the first wave of devolution deals in 2025, following earlier discussions between councils.
Ms Slade said “we nearly lost this” when an alternative proposal emerged for a smaller foundation authority covering only Dorset Council and BCP Council, which she argued would not have carried the same powers or funding access.
Bournemouth MP Tom Hayes said local people may share concerns about joining Wessex, but he said he had pushed for recognition of BCP’s tourism and other economic sectors, specialist support, and protected long term funding for the area.
