THE mayor of Winsford has launched a public tirade against a community group looking to ‘turn local politics on its head’ in the next election.

Open Winsford – which has a Facebook page which hosts the 6,700 member-strong ‘Winsford Community Forum’ discussion group – created a draft document about putting forward representatives for the town’s wards in Cheshire West and Chester Council elections.

In the note, a group administrator says candidates will be selected by – and accountable to – members of Open Winsford, and compete in local ballots.

But elected members would then refuse to be known as councillors, and waive existing protocol ‘where it is deemed hierarchical or inappropriate’.

Instead they would be known as Open Winsford community representatives and would reject ‘councillor pay, expenses and perks’.

A post from Open Winsford said: “Through online balloting the hope is that we can eventually end up with representable community-determined approaches rather than having things done to us according to decisions by a few who believe they have the ability to speak for everyone.

“The principle is simple but would turn local politics on its head, councillors would become true community representatives, there’s no excuse if we can be coherent about our wishes.”

Winsford town mayor, Cllr Mike Kennedy, says he is ‘livid’ with the idea and says it is an attempt to destroy current Winsford councillors.

Cllr Kennedy said: “Coming to a council meeting once a year, does not give an insight into how the council has to operate and how darned hard councillors work.

“The Manifesto which it isn't, has no idea of budgets, confidentiality, accounts, income expenditure. To openly disrespect and try to attempt the destroying of councillors is way beyond any morality that I have heard of.

“You believe we are worried by all of this - no I am livid because it wants to oust local democracy and replace it with ill-thought ideas.

“I will be standing for the Dene Ward, Winsford Town Council in 2019, I am not concerned, frightened or worried. The voting people of the ward will decide on democracy not one person or a committee.”