Macclesfield MP David Rutley has joined with five Conservative colleagues to encourage the public to participate in a survey, on the political future of local villages.

Central government guidance advises a review of town and parish governance every 10-15 years, to ensure the arrangements are fit for purpose.

The last one was done before Cheshire East Council was created in 2009, and the deadline to participate in the current one is fast-approaching.

The last day for the public consultation on proposals for the governance arrangements for town and parish councils in the borough is on November 28.

All Members of Parliament representing constituencies in Cheshire East are campaigning together to speak up for their local villages—and protect their identities—in response to Cheshire East Council's Community Governance Review on the future responsibilities and boundaries of local councils in our area.

At a recent meeting of the Conservative MPs in Parliament, Macclesfield MP David Rutley met with Fiona Bruce (Congleton), Esther McVey (Tatton), Kieran Mullan (Crewe & Nantwich), and Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) who all set out their strong concerns about the plans, which will see the closure or merger of many parish and local councils across the Borough of Cheshire East.

Other villages will be brought into areas represented by larger town councils, causing even greater concern about how their unique characters will be able to endure.

The Parliamentarians are raising awareness of the varying and complex impacts of the plans, which are currently being consulted on, and when finalised will be implemented before the scheduled local elections in May 2023.

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A spokesperson for Mr Rutley said: "It is vital that local residents understand what they are being asked to feed back on, and that they are not just taken for granted as a rubber stamp because highly localised and technical issues have not been explained in plain English.

In the Macclesfield Constituency, local residents are opposed to the villages of Lyme Green and Gawsworth Moss becoming part of Macclesfield Town Council.

Eaton, Marton and North Rode Parish Councils each want to see plans to merge their Councils rejected, so the village can keep their individual identities.

Rutley and his team added: "The following plans will deeply damage local community spirit and the identities of local villages in the constituencies they represent."

The other four Cheshire East MPs and their constituencies; Fiona Bruce MP (Congleton), Dr Kieran Mullan MP (Crewe & Nantwich), Edward Timpson CBE MP (Eddisbury), and Esther McVey (Tatton), are also facing smaller councils of being gobbled up by larger ones.

In our area, there is also active opposition to proposals that would bring Macclesfield Forest, Wildboarclough, Wincle and rural parts of Sutton Parish Council into a new—less local—single council.

David Rutley MP has been campaigning on these issues continually, and is very keen for his constituents to have their say about these regressive proposals.

Macclesfield residents can express their views in the public consultation on Cheshire East Council's Community Governance Review here.

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The consultation started in early September, and ends at midnight on Sunday 28 November 2021.

Paper copies of the consultation can also be obtained from local libraries such as Macclesfield Library on Jordangate, but please bear in mind there are just six days to go.

After their meeting, the Cheshire East MPs issued a joint statement, saying:

"Cheshire East Council's Community Governance Review is causing widespread concern in local rural communities and villages across the Borough of Cheshire East.

"We would urge as many local residents as possible to take part in the consultation and set out their views. If you have any questions, please contact your local MP.

"It's time to show active support for our rural communities, our local identities, and our County's heritage over the crucial days ahead."

Anyone 16 or over can participate in the survey, which can be found here.

See also: Diwali celebration attended by 80 plus MP in Macclesfield Town Hall.

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