Winsford 'should be a trailblazer in Government trial'

Cllr Mike Baynham, Cheshire West and Chester Council member for Winsford Over and Verdin, wants the town to take part in the Government’s civil society trial.

The Conservative councillor believes it could be used to give residents a bigger chance to have their say about the town’s future – and he claims it could be used to spark the transformation of Knights Grange into a first-class sports facility.

But there is a catch, as Winsford would also have to become a trial town for voter ID during elections – something which Cllr Baynham’s political opponents at CWAC have already ruled out.

“Our chance to engage with the public in the current process is quite limited,” he said.

“This is about making sure that everyone has a say and can get involved. We have a blank sheet of paper in Winsford and we should encourage everyone to get involved in some way.

“Some of the brightest ideas start in the community – not in the council chamber. We need to engage young and old, and this would be a way for residents to have their say if anything comes forward for Knights Grange.

“I would like to see Cheshire West apply to be a trial region. The Government is encouraging areas to trial the civil society strategy, and part of that is also to do a trial on voter ID – and there is a fundamental political difference on that [between Labour and the Conservatives].”

As part of the civil society strategy, the Government is offering funding opportunities to find innovative ways of involving the wider community in democratic decisions – such as using mobile technology.

In a letter sent to the Department for Media, Culture and Sport, Cllr Baynham suggested that Winsford’s ‘civil society capabilities are proven’, having already been the first town to adopt a neighbourhood plan and the first town to have a business improvement district on an industrial estate – Winsford 1-5.

The letter added: “Knights Grange is a large public open space used for many sports and activities but sadly the business running some of these facilities went into receivership.

“This presents us with a new opportunity around this place and this particular well-loved and much-used space.

“Bringing together a variety of government, national and very local partners, we could create a community sports partnership of regional and national significance, lighting the way for others to follow.”

A voter ID trial was held in five English council areas in May, where voters had to show a document such as a passport or driving licence in order to cast their vote.

Supporters say that the introduction of voter ID would resolve election fraud – but opponents insist that it stops vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, who are less likely to have a suitable form of ID, from voting altogether.

The issue was debated by CWAC last month, where the idea of Cheshire West becoming a trial borough for the civil society strategy was rejected by members of the ruling Labour group over fears that vulnerable residents would not be able to vote in future elections.

At that meeting, Cllr Richard Beacham, Labour, said: “I think that [voter ID] is particularly disadvantageous to people that are vulnerable and don’t necessarily engage in democracy.

“I don’t think voter ID trials are the way to go, particularly when the Electoral Reform Society said that an unprecedented coalition of charities has demanded a rethink on dangerous voter ID trials because of the way that they marginalise vulnerable people.”

Cllr Brian Clarke, Labour CWAC member for Winsford Wharton, is also sceptical that the civil society strategy would benefit people in Winsford – and he insists there is nothing stopping the town’s residents from sharing their ideas to improve the town as it is.

He said: “People who have got ideas can come to us and we talk with them to take them forward. It’s called democracy.

“We have websites where people can make their suggestions, people can go to their councillors with ideas and visit our surgeries – we are open to anything.”