MP STEPHEN O'Brien met county councillors to discuss a range of issues affecting his constituents, including a lack of places at Kingsmead Primary School and a college planned in Winsford.

Mr O'Brien, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury, hosted the meeting at The Fourways Inn, Delamere, with Labour and Conservative councillors from across Mid Cheshire.

During the packed meeting, the politicians discussed place availability at the Kingsmead Primary School; the Winsford Learning Zone development, which includes a new college; school buses, in particular the withdrawal of the service from Winsford to Tarporley High School; policing; the Minosus scheme to dump toxic waste in Winsford Rock Salt Mine; and the future of Cheshire County Council under regional government proposals.

Mr O'Brien said: 'I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Cheshire's county councillors, who are the eyes and ears of local government.

'Cheshire County Council can be proud of the fact that it passed one of the lowest Council Tax increases in the country, but across the country and among Cheshire's county councillors there is concern that the Chancellor has already pencilled in a Council Tax increase of at least 7% for next year.

'It was also clear that there was no enthusiasm for Labour's regional assembly proposals among those present. Local representatives believe that Cheshire's historic identity should be protected and local county council accountability retained.

'Regional assemblies will just create more politicians with little local knowledge or accountability and another expensive layer of bureaucracy - unnecessary, expensive and out-of-date.'

Speaking on the Kingsmead issue, he said: 'I share the concerns of parents. The fact that 550 people have signed the petition demonstrates the level of frustration and disappointment felt by those affected. I have also received a large number of individual letters.

'It is unfortunate that the council did not recognise in the early planning stages that the estimated 150 places at Kingsmead would not be adequate to serve the needs of this large housing development. I will be liaising closely with the LEA on this issue and it is my intention to present the petition to Cheshire County Council and Parliament.'