A FESTIVAL is being planned to celebrate Winsford Marina and its waterways.

Councillors hope to stage a music, dance and theatre event over the August Bank holiday next year, pandemic permitting.

The festival will feature water-based activities, giving residents the chance to try things out in the hope that this might encourage more people to use the town's waterways in the future.

Winsford Town Mayor Cllr Don Beckett said: "We are constantly looking at ways to both provide entertainment for our people and also to involve them in what we are doing.

“Our waterways are a great part of our town and we hope to be able to make use of them and the marina once this terrible pandemic is over.

READ > Giant Santa at Beagle Point supports Alder Hey in memory of little girl

"I ask that people submit their ideas and get involved in the working group and help to give us all something to look forward to next year."

The idea came from Winsford Town Council discussions on the developing Mid-Cheshire Waterways Strategy, which will focus on regenerating waterways across this part of the county.

A key part of that regeneration focuses on events to celebrate and make use of waterways and their facilities and Winsford Town Council expressed an interest in taking this forward.

Following debate at the council’s community committee, a working group was established to generate ideas for an event made up of town councillors and local community representatives.

The proposal now is for an annual festival at the marina making use of the Bottom Flash.

On the marina island, the plan is to stage music, dance, theatre, workshops with a funfair on the car park.

Residents are asked to suggest a name for the new event. Suggestions already received include Winfest 2021, Winsford’s Flash Fest 2021 and Carry On Up The Flashes.

Ideas can be submitted at mail@winsford.gov.uk or through the Town Council Facebook page.

The deadline for suggestions is December 15 and the name and residents will be invited to vote for their favourite in a poll the following day.

The waterways events working group will meet on December 16 to discuss further details.