Angry councillor fumes over Crewe town centre project 'bashing' at meeting

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter

20th Jan 2023 | Local News

An angry councillor said she was sick of the 'Crewe Youth Zone bashing' - after some members questioned whether it was the right time for the project to go ahead.

Cllr Sally Handley (Crewe, Labour), said some areas of Crewe were among the most deprived in the country and they needed the extra support.

She was responding to comments from Cllr Michael Beanland (Poynton, Conservative), who had said the service would be a Crewe benefit not Cheshire East, and Cllr Jos Saunders (Poynton, Conservative), who questioned whether it could be afforded at the time of an economic crisis.

Crewe Labour councillor, Cllr Sally Handley (Cheshire East Council).

Cllr Handley was furious as she spoke members of the children and families committee during the budget debate on Monday (January 16).

She said: "People are complaining children in Crewe are being treated differently, like they're getting some sort of bonus out of this, but maybe they should be treated differently.

"Crewe central, where the youth zone is going to be located, is first for deprivation in Cheshire East; Barnabas, where I represent, second for deprivation in Cheshire East; Crewe South, third.

"Perhaps they should be treated differently and this budget's being prepared during a background of an economy that's been absolutely crashed, so the cost of living crisis is disproportionately affecting these children and it will affect the rest of their lives, so I'm just sick of Crewe Youth Zone bashing."

Crewe councillor Jill Rhodes (Labour), said: "I think sometimes people forget that Crewe has six wards in the top ten per cent for deprivation in the country.

Crewe Labour councillor, Cllr Jill Rhodes (Cheshire East Council).

"The government agreed to the grant to provide the Crewe Youth Zone because the government recognises the deprivation levels in Crewe which are equal to those in inner city Manchester and Liverpool."

Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Beanland had suggested the wording in the budget be changed to reflect the youth zone was an investment in the young people of Crewe and it would not benefit all children in Cheshire East.

Cllr Saunders had said: "I'm not in principle against the youth zone, I went with a number of people to the one in Warrington I think it's fantastic.

"But, I don't see how we can afford it right now and I don't think it's right to take money from early help services to help fund it."

Committee chair, Kath Flavell (Elworth, Labour), believed the youth zone would feed into the early help service.

Funding for Crewe Youth Zone will come from the Towns Fund as well as Cheshire East and other organisations (Onside).

He said: "It's there to provide early help and support, that is its function, so actually taking the money is not cutting services in early help it's actually investing in something that is going to provide really good early help.

"I think it's misrepresented in a way saying it's a saving here, it isn't really it's an investment in something else."

Cllr Saunders responded: "I do think the grant could have been used across the whole borough rather than just focusing on one area – that's what I'm against."

Crewe Youth Zone is earmarked to be built on Oak Street Car Park.

Funding will come from the Towns Fund as well as Cheshire East and other organisations.