Nantwich Town councillors were accused of “lacking a vision” by Cheshire East Leader Cllr Michael Jones.
In a swipe at the town’s authority, Cllr Jones said they had not “created a vision” for the town’s future, unlike places like Knutsford, Macclesfield and Crewe.
But town councillors hit back, accusing Cheshire East of failing to take note of their views on a range of issues impacting Nantwich residents.
They quizzed Cllr Jones on hot topics in Nantwich such as housing and planning, highways and traffic, flooding and alleviation, and the shopping and night time economy.
Members of the public also questioned him during last night’s Nantwich Town Council meeting at Brookfield Hall (September 10).
“Cheshire East is an economic powerhouse,” claimed Cllr Jones.
“I want to have ideas and actions, and I am asking the town council to tell me what they need so we can get together and deliver that.
“Nantwich has a good catchment area but of course there are problems. What is the town council’s vision for Nantwich?
“I can tell you what is in Crewe, Knutsford and Macclesfield, but I don’t know what it is in Nantwich.
“These councillors represent this area and they can come forward, but I’m sorry I don’t see it.”
He went on to criticise the “lack of promotion” of the town as a market and shopping area, claiming it is losing visitors to nearby Chester.
Nantwich Mayor Cllr John Lewis called on Cheshire East to help fight flooding and resolve traffic problems in the town with a bypass or bridges over railway crossings.
“But no one takes any notice of what is being said,” he added.
Cllr Stuart Hutton said Cheshire East had allowed housing firms to build unwanted developments such as 250-home development off Queen’s Drive, and 59 homes on Regents Park, off London Road.
And Cllr Andrew Martin urged Cheshire East to help redevelop less attractive areas of the town like Snow Hill and the Swine Market.
Cllr Jones replied: “We don’t need these houses, I’m not interested in them.
“But the argument was not presented to me in a strong enough way. The town council needs to come forward and be stronger in their objections.
“There is no interest in redeveloping Swine Market, and this is a problem. I would love to see a hotel in Nantwich but we don’t own these buildings. Private owners have to be motivated.
“And there is no truth to the rumours that Waitrose wants to build a store on Snow Hill.
“We are doing our best to engender interest, but we are not getting responses that a town like this deserves.”
He also challenged councillors to attract more visitors to the town outside of the four big events of Holly Holy Day, Jazz Festival, Nantwich Show, and the Food and Drink Festival.
“As a town council you have to have a vision. Give me that vision and we will go forward and work with you.
“Take those big four events out, there are lower visitors numbers than other towns like Knutsford.
“There needs to be more consistency with visitor numbers, fewer peaks and troughs.”
Cllr Jones did admit Cheshire East were “getting it wrong” with customer service after complaints from members of the public.
“We are getting the customer service culture wrong here, and it’s not good enough, and we will work to change it,” he admitted.
Cllr M Jones’ comments are just downright contradictory. Being a Crewe Town Councillor his comments at us last week were that we were a “shambles” and Crewe was all about “negativism” – now we have vision? Not a Nantwich resident but I think Nantwich has a lot to be proud of!
Leave Nantwich alone Cllr Jones. It is doing very well without your input. It is a beautiful town to visit and shop in. The events that are held every year are excellent and well attended. Perhaps Cllr Jones should put more thought into how Congleton town centre can be brought back to life and stop trying to get to Westminster with radical ideas that will destroy open countryside and residents lives.
I think Nantwich is doing just fine. The other towns don’t really compare to well with Nantwich and for its size, the number of events and promotions work really well. The food and music festivals alone are the envy of many much bigger towns. More (sensible) development and investment would be good, but I am really proud to live here, and the other towns Cllr Jones mentions are barely comparable. If you want to do something useful, cheaply, clean up the takeaway grease off Swinemarket’s pavements, provide some decent toilets and abolish the surcharge for pavement cafes.
I live in Crewe and would love to know what the councils plans are for the town. Crewe has a run down town center and little else beyond the park to offer to visitors. Only four events in Nantwich is four more than Crewe manages