MIDDLEWICH Labour has launched a manifesto ahead of the 2019 local elections which points to a potential change in the role of the town mayor.

The manifesto sets out key Labour policies such as rewriting the Neighbourhood Plan to emphasise infrastructure improvements, reviewing town council spending and involving residents more in decision making.

Jonathan Parry, current town councillor and candidate for borough council, said: “It is unusual to have a manifesto for local elections, but there’s so much we need to do.

“We believe there is an appetite for change in Middlewich, and this manifesto reflects the determination we have to make those changes.”

One of the changes proposed in the manifesto is the role of the mayor.

Jonathan Parry said: “Labour are offering a new deal to Middlewich residents: we will bring them into the heart of the decision-making process.

“We will make the town mayor’s role non-political by ensuring it is a respected local citizen rather than a councillor, we will support local volunteers rather than push them out and take over and we will involve residents from the very start in both the rewriting of the Neighbourhood Plan and the setting of future budgets.”

Middlewich Labour will be hosting two special manifesto launch events next week, open to the public, where residents will be able to get their questions answered.

The first of which will be in in the Turnpike,in Warmingham Lane, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, April 16 and the second event will take place in the Boar’s Head,in Kinderton Street, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 17.

Mike Hunter, town Councillor and candidate for borough council, added: “I, alongside other members of the Labour team, have listened to the residents of Middlewich.

“This manifesto delivers on the issues raised on the doorsteps of our town.

“This is the first time that a real manifesto has been drawn up and delivered to every house in Middlewich: this is because we want every resident to know what we plan to do, and to hold us to account.

“We see this as a team effort: if we are lucky enough to have both the town and borough councillors working together - with this manifesto as a blueprint - then we can really achieve great things.

"We can stand up to Cheshire East and fight for our fair share of services, provide proper value for money for council tax payers, and ensure every resident is rightly proud of Middlewich.”