Following recent decisions by both Wilmslow and Handforth town councils, Chorley Parish Council, also voted unanimously to oppose the merger of Wilmslow Town Council and Handforth Town Council at their meeting on Wednesday 13th October.
Cheshire East Council is proposing that Wilmslow, Handforth and Chorley parishes should merge to become a single community called Wilmslow and the new housing development of 185 properties between Clay Lane and Sagars Road be transferred from the parish of Styal to the enlarged parish of Wilmslow.
The above recommendations are the result of a borough-wide review carried out by Cheshire East which follows Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which looked at a range of issues, including town and parish boundaries, numbers of town and parish councillors, grouping of parishes and warding.
Chairman of Chorley Parish Council, Cllr Durbar said "Chorley Parish Council, Wilmslow Town Council and Handforth Town Council have all voted against any form of merger with one another. The three councils are united in their belief that they represent their residents' views proportionately and accurately. Each council focuses on their unique community identity that their residents enjoy. The three councils support each other to the fullest against this proposal put forward by CE officers who are simply looking at lines on a map."
"As such Chorley Parish Council are fundamentally opposed to the proposed merger.
"Over the last few weeks Chorley Parish Council has distributed a letter to all residents explaining the consultation process and what this would mean for Chorley residents. We have received a huge response to this, with over 15% of the electorate responding not only to the online consultation, but also to the council directly; of these responses 100% have been opposed to any merger taking place.
"Chorley Parish Council sincerely hope that the officers and elected members at Cheshire East look upon these responses as proof that their idea that Chorley, Wilmslow and Handforth somehow share one unique community identity is completely flawed. Also that Cheshire East totally reconsider their proposed idea to group these three parishes together.
"I would also encourage every resident affected to fill in the online survey"
Comments
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When the Turkeys have voted for Xmas.. and lead by their own conduct ... they can perhaps consider merging diverse TC's...
but consideration and imposition are two very different things...
Now what was that about people in glass houses and throwing stones ?? ...