Latest news with #CheshireWestandChester
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cheshire councils call for mayoral election delay to 2027
The three councils in Cheshire are calling for their first mayoral election to take place a year later than originally East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington councils had been added to the government's Devolution Priority Programme earlier this year, with plans to elect the county's first mayor in May area's leaders have now asked the government for this to take place in 2027 said the move would give them "more time to put in place the right foundations". The BBC has contacted the Department for Local Government for a response. Cheshire and Warrington were one of six areas added to the Devolution Priority Programme in February.A government consultation took place earlier this year and it was proposed a combined authority would come into force in January had been concerns from the Conservative groups on both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester Councils about the timings of said they had concerns about the councils' "operational capacity" and "financial sustainability" to have a devolution programme ready for elections in 2026 and said a 12-month delay would offer a "more realistic timescale". In a statement, the leaders of the three councils said they were "committed" to devolution for Cheshire and Warrington."While we have always maintained that we want to release the potential benefits of devolution as early as possible, we have heard what people have said and recognise that by holding the mayoral election in May 2027 – at the same time as a number of local elections taking place across the area – we can reduce costs and potentially increase the number of people who will turn out to vote and have their voice heard."We will continue our work in the meantime to progress establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington in early 2026, subject to the councils' approval."This would still give our area more funding and more powers and be a positive step on our journey to electing a mayor in May 2027." A move to 2027 would also coincide with some local elections in the East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council are both due to have their next local elections, which would be full council elections, in next election, also a full council election, is set to be the following week, the two councils in Cumbria, which were also added to the Devolution Priority Programme, called for their mayoral elections to be delayed by a year. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheshire West and Chester area set for bus franchising pilot
Part of Cheshire is to be involved in a bus franchising pilot to see if the scheme could work in a more rural West and Chester was announced as an area which would be involved in the trial, receiving a share of £750m in government cash to improve bus franchising allows areas to take over routes, timetables and fares, and is currently being rolled out in Greater Manchester, with more areas looking at following deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said it was a "fantastic opportunity" to test the idea in a "semi-rural borough". The government's recent Spending Review documents confirmed the move. Government meeting Other bus announcements included an extension of the £3 fare leader Karen Shore said the authority was one of a small number of councils which had been meeting with the government over franchising in recent said it was "right" that the area understood the different options for franchising and bus operation models, including the option to continue under the existing is an area which does not currently have devolution powers and an elected mayor, but it is currently in talks with the government over a potential devolution details on the bus pilot are expected in the future. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mid Cheshire: 'This area has massive untapped potential'
Despite Mid Cheshire boasting a proud heritage, some of its residents think it has often been overlooked and overshadowed by the likes of Chester, Liverpool and its councils are going to promote Mid Cheshire in an attempt to encourage more business investment in the area and lure more region comprises the three salt towns of Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford - where the commodity has been extracted since prehistoric times - and the surrounding what's included in the plan, what could it mean for the area, and what do residents want to see? "A bold and ambitious 15-year vision," is how the new plan for Mid Cheshire was described by Cheshire West and Chester Council at a recent covers areas including business investment, skills and infrastructure, and will also include the creation of a business-led board named the Mid-Cheshire Partnership."It's about tying together the areas in Mid Cheshire that have a shared history and a shared heritage, as well as having strong economic ties," said the council's deputy leader Karen local authority is keen to emphasise that the plan will not be led by the it is designed to be a collaboration with businesses, community groups and councillors are not Lynn Gibbon said that while the plan offered a "compelling vision" for the area, she had concerns."Vision without delivery is just a story and right now the Mid Cheshire Plan has serious weaknesses in its foundations especially when it comes to growing our rural economy," she told the meeting where it was ultimately approved."I support the ambition but I challenge you to sharpen the evidence, cost the actions and get serious about rural delivery because we can't afford another strategy that sounds good but delivers little." Andrew Cooper is the first MP for Mid Cheshire for more than 100 previous Mid Cheshire seat was abolished in the 19th it was reinstated in 2024 as a result of a boundary review, all three of Mid Cheshire's major towns were in different parliamentary was part of the Congleton seat, Northwich was included in Weaver Vale, while Winsford fell within the Eddisbury while the Mid Cheshire plan was approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council, Middlewich is actually part of the neighbouring Cheshire East a result, the plan includes the two councils working closely together."Something that I've pushed for a lot - for a long time - is trying to eliminate this idea of 'borderland thinking'," said Labour MP Cooper."So we have an arbitrary line that goes between Cheshire West and Cheshire East, sort of skirting around the outside of Middlewich."But the economies of Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich? They're not separate entities, they're interdependent, they're integrated into one another."I've felt for a long time that the councils need to work more closely together and need more of a strategic vision about how you make the economy of Mid Cheshire work." But what do people in the area think? And what do the want to see?On Witton Street in the heart of Northwich, Paul Esling told me that while he believes the town has a lot to offer, it sometimes gets "overlooked".He would like to see the return of free parking and a reduction of business rates to encourage more independent and artisan shops."I think we get a bit lost," said Mr Esling, "because we're sandwiched by Chester, Liverpool, Manchester."You've got towns like Alderley Edge and Knutsford that are seen to be quite salubrious and I think we can [also] get overlooked in that respect."But he said annual events, such as the Pina Colada Festival and the River Festival, certainly helped."If they can do more of this here, the traders would have a better chance."But also it brings people in who wouldn't normally be here and then they come along and think 'this is alright, actually'." 'A bit run-down' Viv Powell lives in Winsford and regularly visits her daughter and grandchild in told me she wanted to see more investment in local high streets to encourage people to stay in the area."I think they should spend a bit of money, because there are a lot of people who live in this area that would do a lot more shopping here," said Ms Powell."But if you go to Chester there's no point in coming back into Northwich to buy a loaf."That's what they should be encouraging people, saying you don't have to go far to have a good time. Stay in your local area."Shelia Forrest lives in the village of Hartford, which is about two miles (3km) southwest of Northwich and only about six or seven miles from Winsford and would loved to see more cultural activities in the area, as she currently often heads to Knutsford or Chester."Maybe a bit more art-centred things here to see," she Forrest praised Northwich's cinema and theatre but said she'd like to see more exhibitions in the also said Mid Cheshire's town centres could use a little TLC."It's a little bit run-down," she explained. "The area's nice where they built the cinema but I think they could have probably done a bit more."I think they could improve the centre, clean it up. If you go out to Knutsford, it isn't like that, it's nice. If you go to Chester, it's nice."You don't want people going out of area so I think this would improve it." The Mid Cheshire plan was approved in May and is still at an early funding has yet been secured, although Cheshire West and Cheshire Council believes the plan's mere existence will help with bids for MP Andrew Cooper is very optimistic."I genuinely believe that Mid Cheshire has massive amounts of untapped potential," he said."I hope people from Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford will see that their concerns about how much attention, how much economic planning goes into the development of the places where they live, [have] been taken seriously, it's happening and people are on it." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheshire and Warrington: Early 2026 for new combined authority
A combined authority for Cheshire and Warrington is set to be created early next year, ahead of the area's first mayoral elections in the from Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington councils were told the new authority will be created in the first two months of were also told more detail would be revealed next month about what powers will be devolved in a report setting out guidance received from the new combined authority is set to be in place for its first mayoral election on 7 May 2026. The update was given at a meeting of a joint committee of councillors and public servants from each of the three local authorities in the county of the new authority, each council would remain separate local authorities but would work together on areas including transport, skills, housing, the environment and creation was given the green light after the county was included in the government's devolution priority programme (DPP) in February. 'Significant' Funding to set up devolution in the area would mostly come from a government grant of £1m, the meeting committee is also waiting for a government response to a formal consultation on the creation of the new authority, which closed last East Council leader Nick Mannion said the government was expected to make a further announcement next month "as to whether Cheshire and Warrington have met the government's statutory tests to move forward for devolution"."This will be a trigger for a significant amount of detail to flow to us from the government in Whitehall," he told the committee.A total of £1m in funding would be provided through a mayoral capacity grant, which would be confirmed after government approval is granted.A further £250,000 has been made available from Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, made up of business rates retained by the economic development organisation, and the Local Government Association has also provided a £25,000 grant to support devolution cost of running a mayoral election would be reimbursed by the future combined authority, it has been Price, the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, told the meeting he welcomed the government funding."I know a lot of members of the public out there are nervous about council finances and what the cost is, but the department has funded this, alongside that grant from the Local Government Association."Ultimately, that's a form of endorsement that we're doing something the government is keen for us to pursue and they're putting their hand in their pocket to help make it happen." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mid-Cheshire: New plan for towns with 'proud identities'
A plan to "raise the prominence" of part of Cheshire is aiming to bring in more business investment, improve transport links and encourage more visitors.A plan for Mid-Cheshire, which includes the three towns of Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford and the surrounding rural area, is set to be signed off by Cheshire West and Chester will also include the creation of a new board to oversee the plan, which will be named the Mid-Cheshire plans will be discussed at a council meeting on Wednesday. The area covered crosses two councils because Middlewich is in Cheshire East. The report to councillors said that the town had been included to reflect a "shared industrial heritage".It also said the area "does not have a rigid 'red-line' boundary but sits at the heart of the Cheshire countryside" in the eyes of the public. Around 110,000 people live in the plan features five areas, including business investment, skills, neighbourhoods and also says some services such as street cleaning, sports ground maintenance and creative and cultural activities could be transferred to town councils or community organisations in the longer term. More lobbying for funding for local transport improvements and rail infrastructure would be at the heart of the the proposals, the new Mid-Cheshire Partnership would have between 12 and 16 members, and would be expected to include representatives from the two councils, NHS, transport providers, the voluntary sectors and local businesses, and the area's West and Chester Council's cabinet has been recommended to approve the plans. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
