Congleton Deserves Better From Cheshire East Council

Over the past few incarnations of Cheshire East Council (C.E.C.) residents have been subjected to higher taxes and lower service levels.

No one holds them to account.

Our current MP has had ample opportunity and has failed.

A Labour MP is hardly likely to heavily criticize a Labour led council.

As your MP I will insist on regular meetings to "hold their feet to the fire" and demand improvement.

Disgraceful roads

Potholes appear all over the constituency and repairs are rare and often perfunctory. It is a regular occurrence to see complaints on social media and in the local press. Cars are damaged not to mention the danger to 2 wheeled vehicles. Rural areas such as Brereton are terribly affected.

The new ring road around Congleton at a cost of £90m has not solved the traffic problems on West Road , Rood Hill and the Clayton Bypass . I believe this was a planning failure. A link to the A34 in the direction of Newcastle and the A54 in the direction of Bosley is the obvious solution.

To add to this rural bus services are being curtailed.

Overspending

A freedom of information request by myself showed that C.E.C. has over 500 staff employed on an agency basis at a cost of more that £13 million.

The new leisure Center in Congleton has been hailed as a success and in terms of facilities it certainly appears to be just that. However one must ask why was it so late in opening and why was it massively over budget. And just last week there was an article in the Chronicle complaining that the "ugly white fence " has not been removed.

The council are to receive £17.6m in support from the government to support their deficit and it was recently announced that £180 million will be allocated as a result of HS2 being cancelled to provide improvement in local transport. One hopes these funds will be wisely spent.

Killing our town centres

Parking charges are being applied and raised in town centers which has a detrimental effect on local businesses. This is caused by C.E.C's inability to balance its books. It even mooted charging for the Lawton house surgery car park in Bromley Road Congleton to have charges applied which was met by disgust from patients.

Planning Running wild

All over the constituency housing developments are mushrooming. The ring road in Congleton has now become a new town boundary eating up green spaces. Its not only Congleton where new estates are springing up Alsager, Holmes Chapel and other locations as well. New housing is of course not undesirable and the need for more social housing is important these developments do not meet that criteria.

Local services are already stretched to the limit. Where are the new doctors surgeries, Dentists,Schools, Public transport routes to provide for all of these new residents?

Where is the plan for inward investment into the constituency to create local jobs?

Refuse, Recycling and Fly Tipping

C.E.C in their wisdom decided not to replace the Household Waste and Recycling Center HWRC in Congleton after already having closed the center in Arclid. This means that the only center now in the constituency is the one in Alsager. Add to that the fact that they have now imposed an annual charge on "green" waste it is no wonder that fly tipping is on the increase not to mention the use of bonfires and incinerators. C.E.C. supposedly pride themselves on being super green !! So its super green to cause people long car unnecessary journeys to attend HWRC and burn their rubbish is it ?

Need for Much more local consultation

Any Local Authority worth its salt should work closely with its residents and consult on a regular basis. It is obvious that C.E.C pay lip service to this . Every week letters in the local press complain about one or another aspect of the councils performance . I will hold regular surgeries where your concerns will be listened to and investigated. I will demand regular meetings with the council to air your concerns and demand improvements.

Fighting for You the people of Congleton

Representing Your interests in Parliament

The role of a Member of Parliament in my opinion is firstly to represent the people of their constituency in Westminster . To take issue with policies that are detrimental to them and to raise local important issues. To seek ways of improving the living standards for all constituents. To seek inward investment into the area to create worthwhile jobs and hence improve services.

I will always listen to your concerns and where possible take action

I welcome your feedback so please feel free to contact me congleton@reformuk.com

Promoted by Martin York 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0HW, United Kingdom