THERE is a familiar name in the running to stand as a Middlewich borough councillor next week.

Paul Edwards served as a Middlewich First member on Congleton and Cheshire East councils before standing down in 2015.

But now he is back in the running as a Conservative – and he believes the town must go blue to make progress.

He said: “The only way things will move on in Middlewich will be if the Conservatives are there for the town, and then we can get things done.

“It’s not that the town has been completely ignored, but there has been no urgency.

READ > Middlewich's candidates for borough elections

“I feel that we need to up the ante a bit, and when you have a Conservative MP and a Conservative council, the chances of supporting the town will improve with Conservative members.

“It would be much better for Middlewich to be sitting at the top table – being at the top table is the best place to be.”

Paul is standing alongside Alison Roylance-White – also a former Congleton Borough Council member – and Bill McCracken as Middlewich’s Conservative candidates.

The Tories have had a vice-like grip of CEC since it was created a decade ago, and are hoping to continue their growth agenda.

READ > Candidates line up for town council elections

Its manifesto includes making the borough carbon-free by 2025, investing in sport and leisure facilities and investing in services for the vulnerable.

Cllr Rachel Bailey, CEC leader, is also hoping to shine a light on market towns like Middlewich in the years to come.

She said: “In Cheshire East we have beautiful market towns. Those towns are the jewel in our crown but as an authority our focus has been on Crewe and Macclesfield.”

Voters in Cheshire East will head to the polls on Thursday, May 2.

While the Tories hope to cling on to power, opposition parties and independent candidates are demanding a fresh approach following the council’s recent scandals.

For more information visit cheshireeast.gov.uk/elections

READ > Middlewich Labour unveils its manifesto

READ > Middlewich First sets its sights on May 2 victory