Frodsham goes to the polls – with the leisure centre a key issue

FRODSHAM goes to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) – and eight candidates are contesting the two Frodsham seats on Cheshire West and Chester Council.
In addition, six candidates are contesting four seats in the Waterside Ward on Frodsham Town Council.
Some candidates have already been elected unopposed to the Town Council.
They are Judith Critchley, Donna Critchley (Lakes Ward), Helen Anne Hayes, Pauline Elizabeth Lowrie (Overton and Five Crosses Ward), Jason Moorcroft, Mark Andrew Nield, Graham William Wood (Castle Park Ward).
A number of other seats remain uncontested and the Town Council has invited applications from residents willing to be co-opted to the council.
Their applications must reach the Town Clerk by 4pm on Monday, May 15.
It is hoped to co-opt additional members to the council at its annual meeting at 7pm on Monday May 22.
The future of Frodsham Leisure Centre has emerged as a key issue in the Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC)campaign.
Labour say they will continue with Chester West’s advanced plans to invest in a new leisure centre for Frodsham.
They say it will be a central hub for improved leisure and fitness facilities along the A56 corridor and will include a new home for Frodsham Library, a coffee shop and new spaces for cultural activities and community events.
But the Conservatives say the Labour-controlled CWaC leisure strategy is out of date. They point to the two vibrant volunteer led facilities at Helsby – Helsby Sports Club and the partnership between Frodsham Junior Football Club, the Football Foundation and Helsby High School to provide a new 4G football facility.
They say what Frodsham needs is its own community-led leisure trust to collaborate with neighbours rather than compete for customers in a way that would weaken their operating model.
The full-line-up of candidates for the Frodsham seats in the CWaC election is:
Eakin, Patrick Thomas, (Liberal Democrats)
Garvey, Michael John, (Labour Party)
Moorcroft, Jason, (Reform UL)
Riley, Lynn (Local Conservatives)
Sibson, Ross (Liberal Democrats)
Sumner, Lucy Rebecca (Labour Party)
Wakefield, Sara Louise, (Local Conservatives)
Webber, Christine Mary (Green Party).
Line-up for the election in the Waterside ward of Frodsham Town Council is:
Patrick Thomas Eakin, Aidan James Holman, Richard Ian Lofts, Frank Pennington, Lucy Rebecca Sumner and Bernie Wade.
All are standing as independent or as indivduals.