Local elections 2008: Countdown to Cheshire elections

Apr 9 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Neston News

THE countdown is on to this year’s local elections after nominations closed last week.

Neston residents will be voting on May 1 for councillors to set up and run the area’s new unitary council.

In April 2009 Cheshire’s two-tier system of local government will cease to exist - Cheshire County Council will disappear along with six district councils in the area, including Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council.

The councils will be replaced by two local authorities covering east and west Cheshire, which will carry out all the functions currently shared between the two levels of council.

Neston and Parkgate will be part of the new Cheshire West and Chester council.

Following the elections, the shadow council’s first job will be to appoint a Chief Executive.

Three councillors will be elected for each ward. Candidates for the Neston and Parkgate ward are:

Henry Crocker (UK Independence Party); Brenda Hilda Dowding (Conservative); Derek Gaskell (Liberal Democrats); Louise Gittins (Labour); Abdul Jilani (Labour); Kay Melane Loch (Con); Tom Marlow (Lib Dem); William Scott Mealor (Con); Michael Leslie Shipman (Lib Dem); Andy Williams (Lab).

For more information on the Cheshire elections call 0151 356 6418.