CULCHETH & Glazebury Parish Council has elected Cllr. Alicia Edwards as its new and youngest ever Chair.
Cllr Edwards has also become Vice Chair of neighbouring Croft Parish Council.
In becoming Chair at Culcheth & Glazebury, Cllr. Edwards is believed to be the youngest serving Parish Council Chair currently sitting in Cheshire.
Alicia, a well-known local resident and owner of local business in Glazebury for more than a decade, takes on the role following a year serving as Vice Chair of the Parish Council.
Outside of her council work, Cllr. Edwards has become a familiar face across the villages through her community volunteering and charitable efforts.
She has led the organisation of Culcheth Community Day for the past two years, serves on the village Christmas lights committee, Culcheth Education Trust, regularly supports local litter picks and charity events, Secretary for 20th Warrington East Glazebury Scouts and has also worked closely with homeless charities in Manchester.
Speaking after her election, Cllr Edwards said: “These villages mean everything to me. I care deeply about our community and I want residents to know that I will always do my very best to put them first.”
She added:“I’ve always believed that the strength of Culcheth and Glazebury comes from the people who live here. When we work together, support one another and focus on what unites us rather than what divides us, we can achieve amazing things for our community.”
Cllr Edwards also expressed her hope that recent disagreements within the Parish Council can now be resolved positively and constructively for the benefit of residents.
“Residents expect their councillors to work together respectfully, to listen and to focus on the bigger picture. I genuinely hope we can move forward together and continue building a strong, caring and effective parish council for everyone.”
Looking ahead, Alicia says she would love to explore whether the successful spirit of Culcheth Community Day could also be expanded into Glazebury with a dedicated local event in the future.
Protecting the character and future of the villages will also be one of her key priorities as Chair, particularly with the ongoing review of Warrington’s Local Plan.
“The Local Plan process will shape the future of our area for many years to come. As a statutory consultee on planning matters, it’s essential the Parish Council fully understands what any proposed changes could mean for our villages and our residents. I want to help people better understand the process and I’ll be putting together clear and helpful information to share with the community very soon.”
Cllr Edwards also paid tribute to the outgoing Chair, Cllr Paul Campbell, thanking him for his work and support over the past year.
“Paul has worked incredibly hard for the Parish Council and the wider community and I’d like to sincerely thank him for all of his support and dedication. I hope I can build on the work he has done and continue moving the council forward in my own way.”
Since her election, Cllr. Edwards has already been engaging with experienced parish council representatives and organisations from across the North West, including Jackie Weaver, the Local Government Association, the Cheshire Association of Local Councils and Warrington Borough Council’s Monitoring Officer as she prepares for the role ahead.
