Cheshire West and Chester's ruling cabinet met earlier today, Wednesday, May 14, where it approved the Mid Cheshire Plan covering Northwich, Middlewich, Winsford and surrounding areas.
It will see the creation of a board named the Mid Cheshire Partnership, which will have up to 16 members comprised of a variety of political role holders and representatives from business sectors and external organisations, all tasked with overseeing the 15-year strategy.
The project's stated goals include attracting economic investment, connectivity and development opportunities, speeding up regeneration schemes and developing what it called a 'united sense of community identity and shared prosperity' amongst the constituent towns and communities of the Mid Cheshire area.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Lynn Gibbon, shadow cabinet member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, welcomed the strategy 'in principle' but believes it 'lacked depth' and had 'serious weaknesses' particularly in relation to rural areas.
She said: "We've held a compelling vision but vision without delivery is just a story.
"There's no real analysis of broadband black spots, service deserts or transport poverty. We're making assumptions without clear data, and you can't build strategy on guesswork."
Cllr Nathan Pardoe, said things such as improving broadband were being addressed in other parts of the council, and said the new strategy would allow the area to speak 'with one voice', especially in relation to planned Cheshire devolution - which is set to see Cheshire and Warrington become a devolved sub-region with its own budget and powers, similar to those already in place in Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.
For the full story, see Northwich Guardian