Newark and Sherwood
Non-metropolitan local government district in Nottinghamshire, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Newark and Sherwood is a local government district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest district by area in the county. The council is based in Newark-on-Trent, the area's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Southwell and Ollerton along with a large rural area containing many villages. Much of the district lies within the ancient Sherwood Forest and there are also extensive forestry plantations in the area.
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Newark and Sherwood | |
|---|---|
| |
 Shown within Nottinghamshire | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Administrative county | Nottinghamshire |
| Admin. HQ | Newark-on-Trent[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Newark and Sherwood District Council |
| • MPs: | Robert Jenrick, Michelle Welsh |
| Area | |
• Total | 251 sq mi (651 km2) |
| • Rank | 52nd |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 127,886 |
| • Rank | Ranked 191st |
| • Density | 509/sq mi (196/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| ONS code | 37UG (ONS) E07000175 (GSS) |
| Ethnicity | 98.5% White |
The neighbouring districts are Rushcliffe, Gedling, Ashfield, Mansfield, Bassetlaw, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Kesteven and Melton. In 2021 it had a population of 123,383.
History
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering three former districts which were all abolished at the same time:[3]
The new district was initially named Newark, after its largest town.[4] The name was changed to Newark and Sherwood in 1985.[5]
Governance
Newark and Sherwood District Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
John Robinson since 23 July 2018[7] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
| Castle House, Great North Road, Newark, NG24 1BY | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Newark and Sherwood District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. The whole district, whole 30+ miles, is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[8]
Newark and Sherwood has been a non-constituent member of the East Midlands Combined County Authority since May 2024, which is led by a regional mayor.[9]
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a partnership of Labour, the "Independents for Newark and District" group of independent councillors, and the Liberal Democrats.[10]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[11][12]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1974–1976 | |
| Conservative | 1976–1979 | |
| No overall control | 1979–1991 | |
| Labour | 1991–1999 | |
| No overall control | 1999–2007 | |
| Conservative | 2007–2023 | |
| No overall control | 2023–present | |
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Roberts[13] | Conservative | 2003 | 15 May 2012 | |
| Roger Blaney[13][14] | Conservative | 15 May 2012 | May 2018 | |
| David Lloyd[15][16] | Conservative | May 2018 | May 2023 | |
| Paul Peacock[17] | Labour | 23 May 2023 | ||
Composition
Following the 2023 election,[18] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 14 | |
| Labour | 10 | |
| Independent | 10 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Total | 39 | |
Of the ten independent councillors, six sit together as the "Independents for Newark and District" group, which forms part of the council's administration with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Another two independents form the "Newark and Sherwood District Independents" group, and the other two do not belong to any group.[19] The next election is due in 2027.[20]
Elections
Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[21]
The district is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Newark, created in 1885, which has been represented by Robert Jenrick, of Reform UK, since 2014;[22] and was held by the Conservative Party from 2001 until Jenrick's defection in 2026;[23] and Sherwood Forest, created in 1983, represented by Michelle Welsh, a Labour MP, elected in 2024.
Premises
The council is based at Castle House, on Great North Road in Newark, adjacent to Newark Castle Railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2017.[24]
The council was previously based at Kelham Hall in the village of Kelham, which had been purchased early in 1974 as part of preparations for the local government reorganisation later that year.[25][26][27]
Settlements
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The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for the three parishes of Newark, Ollerton and Boughton, and Southwell have declared[when?] their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council".[28]
Newark-on-Trent, together with Balderton, forms the largest urban area in the district. Newark-on-Trent has many important historic features including Newark Castle, St Mary's Magdalene Church, Georgian architecture and a defensive earthwork from the British Civil Wars. Other important towns in the district include Ollerton and Southwell which is home to Southwell Minster and Southwell Racecourse. Other settlements in the district include:
- Averham
- Balderton, Bathley, Beacon, Bilsthorpe, Blidworth, Boughton, Bridge, Brough
- Carlton-on-Trent, Castle, Caunton, Clipstone, Collingham, Cromwell
- Devon
- Eakring, Edingley, Edwinstowe, Egmanton
- Farndon, Farnsfield, Fernwood, Fiskerton
- Gunthorpe
- Halam, Halloughton, Hawton, Hockerton
- Kelham, Kirklington, Kirton, Kneesall
- Laxton, Little Carlton, Lowdham
- Magnus, Maplebeck, Morton
- North Muskham, Norwell
- Ossington, Oxton
- Perlethorpe
- Rainworth, Rolleston
- Sleaford, South Muskham, Sutton-on-Trent
- Thurgarton
- Upton
- Walesby, Wellow, Weston, Winkburn
Media
Television
The area is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central with television signals are received from the Waltham TV transmitter,[29] BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire can also be received from the Belmont TV transmitter.[30]
Radio
Radio stations that broadcast to the area are:.[31]
- Capital East Midlands
- Smooth East Midlands
- Greatest Hits Radio Midlands
- Lincs FM (covering Newark)
- Radio Newark (serving Newark)[32]
- Bowe Radio (for Ollerton and Edwinstowe)[33]