Voters will be heading to the polls on Thursday May 4th 2023, polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm. Can’t resist, “May the fourth be with you”! Don’t forget your photo ID if you are voting in person or you will not be allowed to vote. Eligible residents will be voting for Winsford Town Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

There are 15 councillors on the town council, each representing voters in one of six wards: Dene (2); Gravel (2); Over (3); Swanlow (2); Verdin (3); and Wharton (3). You can see a ward map here:

Winsford Town Council (WTC) has a group seeking election called ‘Winsford Salt of the Earth Independents’ (WSotEI), I have tried to find out more about them on line, especially those standing in my ward but I can’t track them down…[update May 1, I have received an e-mail from them and all their applicants details for my area, some very impressive local women wanting to stand in the town, it is a shame it was received after my husbands postal vote had been sent off. There are no Conservative candidates for WTC only Labour, Liberal Democrat and WSotEI.

In 2019, Labour secured 13 seats on Winsford Town Council – while the Lib Dems got two, losing two previous members. 

The Town Council is responsible for a range of local community and environmental services including parks and playgrounds, allotments, litter and community grants. 2023-2024 Draft Budget was for net spending of £650,898 [ Click Here https://winsford.gov.uk/winsford-town-council-budget-consultation-2023-24/ ]

Spending allocated to:

Finance & General Purposes (Inc. Salaries) £428,000.

Community £75,500,

Open Spaces £85,898,

Assets £39,500;

The provision of school milk £25,000. You can read the breakdown of spending on the link. The website says “Most of the Town Council’s budget is already committed to on-going expenditure but where possible savings will be made to allow new schemes to go ahead”.

A number of areas are being considered as part of the budget setting process including:

• Town events, including the Coronation of the new King and a Salt Fair
• Enhancing the parks, including the entrance at Over Recreation Ground https://winsford.gov.uk/services/over-recreation-ground/ [I’ve lived in the town in Over for 33 years and didn’t know this was there! Alexandra Street, CW7 2EE, 1pm to 6pm, £12 per month adult membership, £4.50 per month junior membership. Or £1.50 per hour Adult, £0.50 per hour Junior price. Location: Over United Reform Church roundabout head towards town centre on A54, first road on the left up Moss Bank and its on the right. Moss Bank road leads to Saxon Crossway if you turn left at the T junction it is close to the Tesco Express on Delamere Street.]
• Proceeding with a series of playground enhancements and updates

If you have any comments on these budget proposals, please email the Town Council at mail@winsford.gov.uk

We are told all the allotments are tenanted and there is a lengthy waiting list, so I thought ‘why they are subsidised by other rate-payers’? Proposed cost £2000, it seems there is income offset from the allotments of £3000?

I pondered who are the eligible people who get a concession for the cost of a senior railcard, proposed cost £750, I thought seniors got travel passes for free, they do in London “Travel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person’s Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.” tfl? It also says the town publishes a quarterly newsletter called ‘The Winsford Voice’, I’ve not seen this, if you live in Winsford have you? Where did you get it?