FORMER Middlewich councillor Peter Hirst has taken over the role of chair of the Congleton constituency for the Liberal Democrat Party for 2018.

Peter, who was a member of Middlewich Town Council from 1999 to 2015, was unanimously voted to become the new chair of the constituency party at its annual meeting last week.

Peter, who ran as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Congleton constituency in 2015, said: “It is a real honour to be elected to the chair of Congleton constituency for the coming year. I will do my best to progress the fortunes of the Liberal Democrats in all parts of the Congleton constituency.

“We are now beginning to make headway despite an unfortunate General Election result. We have had a by-election win in Alsager and two good second places in by-elections in the two wards of Congleton Town over the last couple of years. I am intending to build on these achievements.

“Nationally, only the Liberal Democrats offer the electorate a say on the final Brexit deal negotiated by the Government – a Government that goes from one cliff hanger to another.

“Cheshire East Council does no better - with both leader and deputy leader recently replaced, three senior officers on leave pending investigation and at least three police investigations and an independent enquiry into the culture at Cheshire East ongoing.

“I aim to make these events more widely known within the constituency.”