RESIDENTS have voted overwhelmingly against proposals to axe a parish council that covers parts of Crewe.

Polls were held in Leighton, Woolstanwood and Minshull Vernon in response to a proposed consultation on changes which could see Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council abolished.

Of those voting in Leighton, 98 per cent voted against the parish ward being abolished and the area taken into the authority of Crewe Town Council. In the poll 683 people voted to keep Leighton parish with only 11 voting against.

Similarily, in Woolstanwood there was a large vote against (97%) the ward being abolished and taken into the town council's area of jurisdiction. In the poll 171 people voted to keep Wooltstanwood parish with only five voting against.

In Minshull Vernon, 68 per cent voted against a merger with Church Minshull Parish Council with 19 people casting against and nine saying they did not object to the proposal.

The proposed changes are part of a Cheshire East Council review of town and parish council wards so as to adapt to changes in population and settlements, including several on the edge of Crewe.

These are also proposed boundary changes in Shavington, Rope and Wybunbury.

Minshull Vernon parish councillors claim residents in Leighton and Woolstanwood will be hit by higher council tax bills imposed by Crewe Town Council.

They helped force a poll in each ward and that took place last Thursday (June 10).

Afterwards Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council called on Cheshire East to drop its abolition/merger plans.

"The turnout of votes in all three parishes, Leighton, Minshull Vernon and Woolstanwood was phenomenal and the votes spoke loud and clear," the parish council stated.

"Considering that the polling stations were only open for a third of the time of council elections, postal and proxy votes were not allowed, polling cards were not issued and they were held held at extremely short notice, these figures show the real depth of feeling.

"Cheshire East Council has no option but to drop immediately its plans for abolition/merger and should be speaking to the parish council how the two councils can work together better in the future in the interests of all residents."

Cheshire East Council says the results of the polls are not binding, but those who called them can make reference to them at public consultation.

"The parish polls took place at the request of the parish councils in question and those who promoted the questions which appeared on the ballot papers," a council spokesperson said.

"The outcomes of the polls are not binding upon Cheshire East Council, nor the proposed public consultation. No doubt the parish councils and those who promoted the questions, which appeared on the ballot papers, will wish to make submissions in response to any public consultation, with reference to the outcomes of the polls.

"Such submissions will then be given full consideration, alongside all other consultation responses."