Wilmslow Town Council has approved two grants to support projects in the neighbouring parish of Handforth.
The Parochial Church Council of St Chad's Church applied for £4000 towards the provision of toilets facilities for the disabled and baby changing facilities in the church hall, which is used by a wide variety of groups.
However, Wilmslow Town Council voted in favour of giving them £1000 towards the project, which is the same amount that Handforth Parish Council provided.
Roger Small spoke on behalf of the Parochial Church Council, he said "We received a grant of £1000 from Handforth Parish Council which brings our total funds available to just short of £16,000. We applied to the Manchester Airport Community Fund, we've applied to Cheshire East Council Community Fund and we've applied to the Cheshire Community Fund.
"Should our application tonight prove successful and should all these other applications prove successful then we would succeed in raising another £17,000. Our total secured funds would be £32,900 against a total cost of the project as per the quotation of £34,570."
Chairman Keith Purdom raised the issue that the church hall is not in Wilmslow saying "We are not prevented from using our grant funds for anywhere in the country if we choose to, and we have already made a donation at The Clink which is in Styal but I think there will be people, maybe around the table, who find that given this is in Handforth it is a problem."
Councillor Christopher Dodson responded "I'm afraid I do have such a problem and I also find it strange we, Wilmslow Town Council are being asked for £4000 when Handforth Parish Council have given £1000. I'm afraid I am not minded to support this."
Councillor Gary Barton said "I can't support the full £4000, even though I think it's a worthy cause. We are elected to be representatives of people of Wilmslow but the fact we have two councillors who are Wilmslow councillors who aren't able to participate in this debate because of their involvement suggests that people of Wilmslow do use and benefit from this facility and improving it would therefore be of benefit of some Wilmslow residents.
"This is a near neighbour, we are not talking about Timbuktu, this is the immediate joining village so I think it is worthy of consideration of some support. I would suggest we match Handforth's donation of £1000."
Councillor Martin Watkins added "I would be prepared to match the grant that has been made by Handforth Parish Council. They are providing a very specialist service in the hall, which is of benefit to some of the people who live in Wilmslow which has been pointed out. On that basis I agree we should support what they have done so I would support it to the extent it matches what Handforth have given."
All councillors voted to provide a grant of £1000, rather than the £4000 applied for, apart from councillors Dodson and Jefferay who voted against the application on the basis it is outside Wilmslow.
Secondly, Wilmslow Town Council approved a grant application of £1000 from the Handforth Community War Memorial Foundation which will be used towards the purchase of the memorial stone, its base and the engraving of the names of the fallen - which is all estimated to cost £30,000. Carillon Construction Services has agreed to carry out the groundwork and provide the stone for a pathway and surround at their own expense.
So far Handforth Community War Memorial Foundation, which was set up about two years ago, has raised £24,000 which includes a £10,000 grant from Handforth Parish Council.
Anthony Harrison, Chairman of Handforth Community War Memorial Foundation, explained that the reason they are asking Wilmslow Town Council for £1000 contribution is because the boundaries for the parish have changed dramatically.
He said "You go back to 1914 and you had the old rubber mill which used to stretch right through what is currently the Dean Row and Lacey Green wards for Wilmslow Town Council and that housed back in 1919 2900 prisoners of war and internees, there were four fallen soldiers from that camp alone."
Anthony continued "When you look at the parish borders up until the 1970s Handforth was a major part of Wilmslow and so was Styal so there are several fallen people who will be going on the Handforth Memorial that actually fall in the Wilmslow Town Council boundaries."
Councillor Gary Barton commented "This is representing Wilmslow as well as representing Handforth but also because those who've fallen were defending Wilmslow as well as Handforth and every part of this country - so to ignore them purely on the basis on that small bit of geography would be a grievous shame and I know personally the amount of work put into this, it has been a huge effort."
Councillor Keith Chapman added "It is worth bearing in mind that on this occasion Handforth has put in £10,000, they themselves have made a very substantial contribution."
The councillors voted unanimously in favour of the application.
Speaking afterwards, Anthony Harrison said "I would like to thank the residents of Wilmslow and the councillors of Wilmslow Town Council for tonight, Tuesday 21st September 2015, approving our grant application to support Handforth War Memorial.
"Councillor Gary Barton and Councillor Martin Watkins spoke highly of the work that the service men and women of Handforth and Great Britain do to both serve and project our country. It was an honour to see the motion passed unanimously. Thank you all once again for your continued support!"
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