1,500 sign petition calling for town to separate from Cheshire East Council ON SALE NOW
AROUND 1,500 people have signed the petition calling for calling for Macclesfield to separate from Cheshire East and form its own council.
The online petition has been running for one month having been launched by town centre resident Martin Smith on February 11.
He set it up after obtaining figures under the Freedom of Information Act that showed Macclesfield has received £26m capital expenditure from Cheshire East between 2014 and 2023.
In the same period Crewe had received £141m and Congleton £121m, according to the figures.
Martin said in reaction: “The integration of Macclesfield
into Cheshire East Council has been an unmitigated disaster for Macclesfield and its communities.
“Macclesfield and some of its immediate localities have effectively suffered managed decline, while other towns have managed to hold their own during challenging times.
“Feedback from Macclesfield residents suggests our roads and infrastructure are in a woeful state compared to other areas.”
He also argues Cheshire East is ‘unresponsive’ and that a Macc-led administration would allow more accountability and infrastructure maintenance.
Cheshire East has always strongly refuted that Macclesfield receives a lack of investment.
It has previously outlined steps taken, including the £7m invested in redeveloping Castle Street and the creation of the Treacle Town Art Trail, including the Ian Curtis mural.
A project to provide better access to the Middlewood Way has recently been completed and the indoor market is set for investment having had new public toilets installed there in late 2023.
When the petition was launched Cheshire East Council were approached for comment.
The petition ‘Time to break free from CEC. A Call for a new Macclesfield led Council’ can be found at change.org.