A BID by Neston residents to have their own town council has received support from the Cheshire Association of Local Councils ChALC and members of Cheshire County Council.

However ChALC development officer, Chalky White, accused Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council of wasting money after spending £10,000 on a leaflet campaign asking a question 'already answered twice by the people of Neston.'

Mr White said: 'Earlier this year, more than 2,500 people in the Neston area signed a petition calling for the Borough to set up a Town Council in Neston.

'Whilst the Borough Council have the power to set up the Town Council without reference to the Secretary of State, they have decided to spend the money of those throughout the Borough -including electors in Ellesmere Port and other areas - to ask if Neston really wants a Town Council - and then send that information to the Secretary of State.'

The average annual payment for Town Councils is less than £1.50 per month.

Mr White added: 'Unless the people of Neston are determined to take on the Raby Park Road cemetery, then it is likely that a Town Council in Neston would cost about the equivalent of a half pint of beer a month. But then again it could be said the advantage the people of all the other towns have is choice, something the people of Neston currently don't have.'