KNUTSFORD could be made into a ‘cleaner and smarter’ town if plans for a new Town Ranger get the green light from Knutsford Town Council.

In May 2014, a working group was established to investigate the feasibility of employing a Town Ranger for Knutsford.

Proposed duties for the Town Ranger include cleaning of bus shelters and street signage, pruning of overhanging trees in public areas, painting of rails and bollards, leaf collection and weeding pavements.

The key benefit of the service, which would incur an approximate annual cost of £14,700, would be a ‘cleaner and smarter town centre reflecting the special nature of Knutsford amongst other Cheshire towns’.

The working group’s findings were presented to the environment committee earlier this month for their consideration.

Clr Peter Coan questioned whether the town council ‘had the money in the pot’ to recruit another member of staff and was concerned that the duties performed by the Town Ranger would duplicate duties under the remit of Cheshire East Council.

In reply, Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Garner said that the service, which would equate to 5p a week per Band D property in Knutsford, would be a reasonably low cost for what would be provided.

“There is no intention to replace what Cheshire East is doing, it is to complement what they are doing,” he added.

Adam said that the council would not let the base level of services provided by the borough council to drop; one of the roles of the Town Ranger would be to report issues to Cheshire East Council, give notice, and bill for duties carried out if the borough council failed to take action.

Clr Yvonne Bancroft said she thinks that a Town Ranger would be really beneficial to the town and would elevate Knutsford.

“We are not a poor town and we should try and have the right look for the town,” she added.

“I think it is a really good idea. It shows the council is trying to make the town nice for everybody who lives here and I very much support it.”

Clr Simon Hutchence echoed Clr Bancroft’s views and said that he thinks it would enhance Knutsford’s ‘image, position and status’.

“There are always concerns about spending people’s money,” he said. “But I think this is a modest cost for what I think will be a big improvement.”

However, Clr Coan said he believed that there were far most costs involved.

“Although it is a great idea, we are underestimating the costs for the services we are expecting,” he added.

The committee made a recommendation to council that a Town Ranger be employed, with a start date of April 2015. The matter will be discussed by full council tonight.