Following completion of the petition for a combined Wilmslow & Handforth Town Council a Community Governance Review is currently underway. A sub-committee of the Constitution & Governance Committee are now dealing with the matter.
The signature collection was spearheaded by the Wilmslow Trust and volunteers from across Wilmslow and Handforth recently spent over 150 hours knocking on doors. The petition was also available to sign in the Information Centre, the Wilmslow Guild and various local businesses. In total almost 2800 signatures were collected compared to the 2450 needed.
The Petition has enjoyed support from residents and businesses across the local area. Dave Bolton, Chairman of the Wilmslow Business Group said: ‘Although I am not a Wilmslow resident, I know that the members of the Business Group are fully behind any initiative that will increase investment in Wilmslow and Handforth town centres. The combined Council will be a force for good for both local residents and local businesses.’
Peter Stubbs, vice-president of the Trust, said: “The Wilmslow Trust has been proud to further its tradition of civic responsibility by taking a key role in this democratic exercise. We have been doubly fortunate to have the support of the Wilmslow Business Group and the Wilmslow Forum. This Petition should ensure that our area, covering 24,500 voters, has a stronger voice in the new unitary Council and a bigger say in fostering local services.”
“The support we have received on the doorstep has been overwhelming, across all parts of Wilmslow and Handforth - from Gravel Lane to the Lakes estate. Handforth residents have been especially supportive with 910 residents backing the combined Town Council Petition compared to the 720 who supported a separate Handforth Community Council.”
Rod Menlove, Councillor for Wilmslow South, said “The recommendation of the Constitution & Governance Committee will go to Cabinet and then to a decision at a full Council meeting. It is anticipated that this will be completed in the early part of 2010. This will be followed by a ballot with voting papers delivered to all 24,500 electors, so that everybody has a say whether to accept the principle of a Town Council.”
The statutory timescale allows up to 12 months to do this, but local supporters hope for a quicker conclusion, to enable the first elections in May 2011 at the same time as the Cheshire East Council elections.
Peter Stubbs concluded: “Wilmslow Urban District Council handled all local matters for Wilmslow and Handforth until it was disbanded in 1974. The proposed Wilmslow & Handforth Town Council covers the same geographic area. It is an historic development, that will return valuable local democratic control to local residents, with equal representation for all.”
Picture: Peter Stubbs (Wilmslow Trust), the Rev Paul Smith, Dave Bolton (Flower Shop, Wilmslow Business Group), Simon Carr (Hoopers, Wilmslow Business Group) and Khumi Burton.
