DEMAND for grass roots democracy is growing after the public showed unanimous support for a town council during a debate on the future of local government in Wilmslow and Handforth.

Calls for a local power base gained momentum at last Thursday’s talks organised by Wilmslow Trust members to weigh up support for a "neighbourhood" council after more than 30 years without one.

Around 70 residents turned out to the meeting at Wilmslow Guild where they were able to question Cheshire East leader Wesley Fitzgerald and chief executive Erica Wenzel who had been invited by the Trust to help thrash out the pros and cons of a town council.

At the end of the debate Coun Fitzgerald, who will lead Cheshire East Council when it takes control in April next year, asked residents to show if they were in favour of a local government system by a show of hands, and there was unanimous support.

Ray Acton, chairman of Wilmslow Trust, said: "A town council for Wilmslow would give a stronger voice for the area in planning issues and local services like transport.

"We also want to see the trust’s proposals for landscape enhancements taken forward. This is an opportunity to benefit local people."

Both Wilmslow and Handforth have been without a locally based council since local government switched to Macclesfield in 1974.

But a town council could be in place in two years’ time if 10 per cent of the population support the plan and trigger a Community Governance Review which will set the ball rolling towards a ballot in 2011.

Coun Fitzgerald told residents: "In the past when asked if I supported a town council I was against the idea of a tier of government below the two Macclesfield Borough Council and Cheshire County Council tiers.

"However, now that we are having a single unitary system I think a town council would be fully justified. Cheshire East will be seeking new ways to decommission services locally."

Mrs Wenzel added: "A council as large as Cheshire East needs local government. But we are taking our time getting it right. We do not want neighbourhood working to be a talking shop; it needs to deliver for local people and listen to local people.

"Cheshire East will not be a one size fits all. There is a mix of the affluent and the deprived. We are very interested in your views for your local area.

"We are currently in consultation and are keen to empower local areas."

Another meeting will be organised by Wilmslow Trust for early next year.