Candidates from a local Winsford group will be challenging the main political parties for seats on Cheshire West and Council this May.

The borough heads to the polls next Thursday, May 4, for the first time since 2019, where all 70 seats across 45 council wards will be contested. Challenging the main parties for at least some of those seats will be Winsford Salt of the Earth independent group.

Founded by Ernie Welch, who owns The Old Star pub and represents Dene on the town council, the group said it takes its name from the town being built on a salt mine and because local people are ‘salt of the Earth’.

The group will be fielding seven candidates in Winsford’s wards: Graham Newton for Wharton; Mandy Clare for Dene; Martin Beveridge for Gravel; Simon Boone for Swanlow; Dan Ford, Wayne Fletcher and Claire Broughton – all for Over and Verdin.

Mandy Clare, a former Labour councillor who parted ways with the Labour group last year, said Winsford Salt of the Earth aims to secure more investment for the town. She said the group have found candidates to stand at both town council and Cheshire West borough elections.

She said: “From a standing start with no name recognition, we now have a strong, hard-working team and a growing campaign support group. We have held several public meetings and run several survey consultations of residents.

"Our leaflet has a window poster on it which is a bit different to the usual local election fare and we hope brings a bit of fun to the proceedings."

The group have also released two cover songs on our YouTube channel.

She said: "Again, we want people to know that we take the problems faced by the town very seriously, but we don't intend, if elected, to be stuffy about it."

Depending on their ward, Cheshire West residents will also be able to choose from Labour, Conservative, Green, Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, Trade Unionist and Socialist, Alliance for Democracy and Freedom, as well as a number of independent candidates.

All Salt of the Earth borough candidates currently appear on the council elections list as independent candidates, because the group did not register as a party with the council.

A full list of all candidates can be found here.