Victory for common sense as Parish Council Chair agrees to work with Protect Culcheth Village campaigners

RESIDENTS packed into a community meeting last night (Monday) in what has been hailed as a “victory for common sense,” after Culcheth Parish Council signalled it would work alongside the recently formed Protect Culcheth Village group.

The meeting, organised by local businesswoman Aysha Khan, former parish clerk Bernie Kingston and local resident Gill Stott, organisers of ‘Protect Culcheth Village’ & Bring Back Our Shops group, held at the Daten, drew a large turnout of villagers eager to hear the latest on planning concerns, local development, and the future of the CPS Centre. The group called the meeting to rally support and ensure the community remains vigilant.
One of the key outcomes was the assurance from the Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council Chair, Cllr. Paul Campbell that the Parish Council recognises the strength of local feeling and will look to closer cooperation with the group going forward, marking an important step towards building a united front between elected representatives and residents determined to preserve the character of Culcheth.

Speakers praised the community’s success in helping to force the withdrawal of the most recent CPS planning application in August. “That decision was down to the people in this room and across the village,” said Gill. “When we stand together, we get results.”
The meeting also raised awareness of other potential developments in the area, including the proposed solar farm in Glazebury and ongoing concerns about the future of the New Church Rectory site. Residents were urged to submit their views via the planning portal before the consultation deadline on the solar farm closes this Thursday.
There was also frustration expressed over the conduct of a recent Parish Council meeting at Culcheth Library, with villagers calling for more openness, accessibility, and accountability. Calls were made for the Protect Culcheth Village group to become more formalised, ensuring it can act as a strong, representative voice within the community.
However, the overall mood was positive, with both councillors and campaigners stressing their shared goal: protecting Culcheth’s identity, businesses, and way of life.
Cllr Campbell said: “All members of the parish council are local residents as well. We put our names forward because we want the best for our community. We are unpaid and doing the best we can. I do it and I think the others do it because they want the best for our village.
“I can assure you the parish council will work and does want to work with everyone here,” added Cllr Campbell.
With stronger cooperation now on the table, villagers left the meeting feeling more confident that the fight for Culcheth’s future will be a joint effort — and that common sense has prevailed.