Parish Council debates the Playing Field take over

Monday night's Audlem Parish Council meeting saw the proposed take-over of the Playing Field Complex (the field itself, the car park, tennis courts and children's play area) under intense scrutiny by councillors.

After over an hour's discussion, at times heated, the council voted by seven votes in favour, none against and one abstention, to write to Chesire East Council saying they were in favour of the concept of proceeding with the take-over.

Councillors were keen to establish that this letter would not be legally binding as there will still be costings to be finalised and works to be completed before any final binding contract could be signed.

Parish councillors were made aware that a decision saying they would proceed with the concept was necessary as Cheshire East's Finance Portfolio Holder, Cllr Peter Raynes, was to examine next week both the principle of transferring to Audlem the Playing Field Complex and the land behind the Public Hall. The latter is where an annexe will be built if the current bids for funding are successful.

Delaying making a decision on Monday evening by the parish council could have put the whole process in jeopardy with a Borough election due next month.

Several parish councillors argued that a detailed report written by the working group chosen to work on the take-over was unbalanced but, after comments from the floor had also been heard reminding councillors of the strong views of the public at the Extraordinary Meeting in early November, the 7 – 0 vote was taken in favour of writing positively to Cheshire East.

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