CAMPAIGNERS for a town council in Crewe have raised questions regarding Cheshire East Council's second stage of consultation on the issue.

The authority has announced that the next stage has been put back and will now start on November 30 and will end on January 8.

Councillors will make a final decision in February.

Steven Roberts, a spokesman for the One Town – One Voice campaign, said: “Cheshire East Council have given no indication of what they expect of this second stage of consultation.

"I suspect that they are just going through the motions.

"If they are serious they should be able to say what sort of response they need to make them change their minds.

“The whole of the process has been seriously flawed, and the council have left themselves open to challenge by reference to the District Auditor, the Local Government Ombudsman, a judicial review and even by appeal directly to the appropriate Government minister.

"It would seem that Cheshire East Council have set out from the start of this process with the decision not to set up a Crewe Town Council already made.

“Now that the second stage has been delayed there is plenty of time in which to conduct an independent telephone poll.

"It would cost as little as £1,000, which is probably less than the cost in officer time alone.

"A telephone poll on the straight forward question ‘Do you want a Town Council for Crewe – Yes or No’ makes sense.

"I cannot understand why the council has tried to avoid asking this simple and straightforward question right from the start.

"Maybe they are afraid they will get a simple and straightforward answer.

“Cheshire East Council should tell the people of Crewe what response is needed to make them change their mind.

"And they must give a valid reason why they are unable to conduct an independent poll by a professional telephone polling company.”