Wilmslow will lose its town centre manager unless the town council pays Cheshire East £13,600 a year – to keep the service for one day a week.

Cheshire East council employs town centre manager Diane Smith to run special events such as Christmas lights switch-ons and support traders.

Her role is intended to boost the economic fortunes of the borough’s towns and villages.

But Cheshire East is reviewing the service and it will be lost in its current form.

Instead town centre management will be devolved to parish councils which can buy back the service from the council.

Mike Williamson, chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, has said it’s a step too far for devolution.

At the most recent Wilmslow Town Council meeting, councillors said they were worried about losing Ms Smith and had concerns about paying £13,600 a year for one day of service each week.

Matthew Jackson, town clerk, said there are risks to not having a town centre manager.

He said:  “Diane Smith has done a fantastic job for many years and co-ordinates events with Cheshire East.

“She knows how Cheshire East operates and there is great advantage of her being internal to the council.

“It will make things difficult for the town council if it does not have a town centre manager as it does not have a history.

“There are economic regeneration risks to the town.”

Councillors decided to buy the Cheshire East service but cap it at £13,600 and request that Ms Smith remains Wilmslow’s manager.

Coun Sue Menlove said: “We need someone who knows the ins and outs of Cheshire East.”

Critics have complained that residents are being asked to pay for a service previously covered by Cheshire East.

One resident who attended the meeting said:  “My worry would be that the town council precept will go up to pay for it.”

Coun Jamie Macrae, cabinet member for prosperity, said town centre management is ‘discretionary’ and devolving it will save the council £120,000 a year.

He said: “Town centre management lays foundations for future growth, boosting the local economy and promoting visitors to the town.

“We fully support this model and encourage councils to embrace it.

“The devolution aims to save £120,000 per annum while allowing town and parish councils to continue the service through their precepting powers. The council has
offered to provide town centre management at cost on a contractual basis from April 1 but town and parish councils are not obliged and may consider other means of delivering it.

“Town centre management is a discretionary service and was continued by Cheshire East when it was created out of the legacy authorities.”