MIDDLEWICH folk were denied the chance to speak at Monday’s town council meeting – one month after a clash with a resident brought proceedings to a halt.

Cllr Bill Walmsley, mayor of Middlewich, announced at the beginning of the meeting that clerk Jonathan Williams had decided to take the open forum off the agenda.

He said this was because of ‘purdah’ – the period in the run up to an election when extra care is taken not to promote a councillor or party in public meetings or communications.

But both Winsford and Wilmslow’s town councils did have the open forum on their agenda on the same night – with all three towns set to head to the polls on May 2.

It was the first full town council meeting since February 18.

That meeting was brought to a premature end following a clash between members and a resident who declined to give his full name when asking a question during the open forum.

A police officer was in attendance at last night’s meeting.

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