CHESHIRE West and Chester councillors have rejected claims that Northwich is not getting its fair share of funding. 

Town councillor Lee Siddall has suggested Northwich had been overlooked in the latest round of allocations from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is meant to replace money once received from the European Union.

Cllr Siddall pointed out Northwich is mentioned only once in CWAC’s document outlining how the £1.4 million will be spent, and only as an example of a town with heritage builds a £50,000 project could target.

He is also concerned Chester and Ellesmere Port received far too much of the funding, and this could have knock-on effects that would damage Northwich’s future chances when other money is allocated.

Posting on Facebook, Cllr Siddall said: “On the face of this, CWAC looks like they have forgotten about Northwich and Winsford in this spending bonanza.

“I have asked that our CWAC representatives explain how Northwich will benefit tangibly from this funding, as the report clearly shows how Chester and Ellesmere Port will.

“As a Northwich councillor and resident dedicated to making the town a better place, I feel nobody can look at the same report and conclude Northwich has had its fair share of this funding.”

At a meeting of Northwich Town Council on Monday, February 6, Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) councillors addressed these claims directly.  

Cllr Andrew Cooper rejected Cllr Siddall’s analysis, claiming it does not account for the benefits to Northwich from projects reaching across the whole of Cheshire West.  

Cllr Cooper said: “Northwich is set to benefit from £1.2 million of UKSPF money through of borough-wide projects, including £500,000 for an adult numeracy project, Multiply, which aims to boost the employability or over 19s across Cheshire West.

He also made clear this is only the first of three rounds of UKSPF funding, adding that Northwich has benefitted greatly from CWAC allocated funding over the last 10 years, including a recent £500,000 pot for the rejected Winnington Bridge funding bid.

He added: “We really don’t need to play these zero-some games.”

CWAC and Northwich town councillor, Sam Naylor, said: “I’m aware Cllr Siddall intends to stand for CWAC at the next election in May.

“I admire his championing of our town, and he is free to campaign on any issue he sees fit, but this kind of politicking is divisive, and doesn’t do any one of us any good.

“It gives the wrong impression, and it makes people point the finger.

“We are all fighting for, and supporting, this town all the time, and in every way we can.”

Cllr Siddall added: “We should all be fighting for every little penny of funding this town can get.”