A PARISH council, which includes one of Crewe's fastest growing areas, is facing the axe as part of a council review.

Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council is set to be abolished with its parish wards moved under Crewe Town Council and Church Minshull Parish Council.

Angry councillors want to force a parish poll in May to canvass the views of residents over the controversial plans put forward by Cheshire East Council.

The parish council currently covers areas of Leighton and Woolstanwood in Crewe and a rural area stretching up to Minshull Vernon.

Under Cheshire East's proposals Leighton and Woolstanwood would become part of Crewe Town Council's jurisdiction, while Minshull Vernon would be thrown into the boundaries of Church Minshull Parish Council.

Minshull Vernon and District Parish councillors Brian Silvester said: "There is no reason at all to abolish our council. We are a well-run and managed parish council which continues to meet monthly, even during these difficult times.

"We provide a good service to residents and keep them informed via social media and a monthly information page in a local community newsletter. We are non-political and non-partisan with diverse viewpoints to reflect all our parishioners."

The councillor claims residents would be hard hit by the changes with Woolstanwood left with no councillors solely representing them, while residents in Leighton and Woolstanwood would face higher council tax bills within Crewe.

He added: "The interests of the residents of Woolstanwood and Leighton will not be better looked after by a remote and very large town council and there is no reason why Minshull Vernon should become part of Church Minshull Parish Council.

"We will fight this with all our might. I am confident if a parish poll takes place, the residents will vote overwhelmingly to retain their council."

Cheshire East launched a review of governance arrangements of its town and parish councils after the 2019 elections. The authority feels changes to population and settlements following housing developments have meant some current boundaries are not fit for purpose, including on the edge of Crewe, where the outward expansion of housing estates has extended well into the rural area of Leighton.

A report to the council's community governance review sub-committee stated: "We believe the number of councillors on Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council is unusually large for a parish council of this size."

It also noted there were only five nominations for Leighton's 11 seats at the 2019 elections and only one nomination for Woolstanwood's four seats.

Other parish councils in and around Crewe face changes under the proposals which are due to be discussed by the sub-committee on Friday afternoon (February 26).

They include Wistaston Parish Council, where the number of councillors would be reduced from 15 to 12.

The changes will be subject to a further period of consultation.