A LABOUR borough councillor is in open revolt over Cheshire’s big local government shake-up.

Henny Moore, who has represented Stanlow ward for the past 10 years, has refused to take part in his party’s official selection process for the “shadow” council which will run the borough until it joins up with Vale Royal and Chester in the new Cheshire West authority in 2009.

But he says he will still stand in the elections for the authority on May 1 under the “Old Labour” banner.

Under local government reorganisation, approved in Parliament last week, the county council will be scrapped and replaced with all-purpose authorities serving the east and west of Cheshire.

Reflecting the eventual make-up of Cheshire West and Cheshire, the shadow authority will have a greatly reduced number of councillors.

All the major parties are currently going through the process of selecting those who will stand for it.

Labour held a meeting in Warrington last week for those being put on the panel and this week there was another meeting at the King Street Centre in Ellesmere Port to choose the final list of local contenders for seats.

But 64-year-old Cllr Moore said: “I didn’t go to either of these meetings because I am 100% against reorganisation and the way it is being done.

“A total of 48 sitting borough and county councillors for this area are being boiled down to just 18 and that’s simply not enough to properly represent the people of this area.”

He added: “Generally, Ellesmere Port & Neston is going to be left as the poor relation to the other two authorities in the new council.

“Although I have been a supporter of the party for many years, I am unhappy about New Labour and a lot of its policies such as, locally, providing a permanent site for the Travellers.

“In fact, that’s what put the cap on it for me. Here I am trying to find proper homes for elderly people in the borough and the council is considering a site for the Travellers.

“When I stand for the shadow authority it will be as a candidate for Old Labour.”

Cllr Moore went on: “I think I stand a pretty good chance of winning and I’ll put up the £250 election deposit out of my own pocket.

“People in the Stanlow ward have already said they will support me.”