Public access to Cheshire East buildings is too difficult, councillors say

The matter was raised by Cllr Byron Evans (Leighton, Ind) at Thursday’s meeting of the audit and governance committee at Sandbach.

He said: “On several occasions I've tried to get in to Westfields from the main entrance, and there is a bit of a rigmarole about ringing up and things.

Cllr Byron Evans

“I am concerned to make sure that members of the public find it easy to come in and to make sure, now that we do have public meetings, there is somebody available to make sure access is there.”

Cllr Rachel Bailey (Audlem, Con) said once members of the public did get into committee meetings [at Westfields] they couldn’t get out.

“I’m conscious, from attending policy committees and other committees, that people can't leave the building either, unless someone with a badge gets up to let them out,” said Cllr Bailey.

“I completely agree with Cllr Evans, if members of the public aren't able to go to their local council easily, it really is of grave concern.”

Cllr Marilyn Houston (Crewe West, Lab) admitted she had had trouble getting into council buildings on occasion.

Alsager Town councillor Sue Helliwell is a frequent visitor to Cheshire East meetings to ask questions during public speaking sessions and often struggles to get in or out.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I agree you have to ensure the safety of staff in council buildings, however when residents take the trouble to go to committee meetings to ask a question it is very frustrating to find the reception is closed and you have to ring a council number to get in.

“I now make sure I get there half an hour early so I can get in.

“And if you need to leave early from Westfields, as I often do to get a bus, you can’t out of the building and have to disturb someone in the meeting to let you out with a fob.

“If there was a health and safety issue how would anyone without a fob get out?”