Cheadle Town Council West Ward By-Election: Your Complete Guide

If you live in Cheadle and have noticed more political chatter, it is because a local vote is taking place this Thursday, 16 April 2026. Residents in the West Ward will choose a new person to represent them on the Cheadle Town Council.

This special by-election was triggered following the departure of a councillor earlier this year. While Town Councillors are volunteers who provide a democratic voice for the town, their actual powers are very specific and different from those of the District or County Councils.

A Two-Horse Race: Separating Local from National Politics

In a break from the usual local line-up, there are no Labour or Conservative candidates on the ballot for this specific by-election. Instead, West Ward residents face a direct, head-to-head choice between the Green Party and Reform UK.

When two parties with such distinct national identities dominate the conversation, it is completely natural to view the election through the lens of big, country-wide issues, whether that is national net-zero targets, immigration, or the cost-of-living crisis. However, it is crucial not to get national politics confused with local realities. A Town Councillor’s day-to-day job is hyper-local, and their legal powers are strictly limited. Before you head to the ballot box, it helps to understand exactly what the person you elect will, and won't, have the power to change.

Understanding the Role: What Are You Actually Voting For?

When reading campaign promises, it is vital to remember what a Town Council can actually achieve. Local government in Staffordshire operates on a three-tiered system:

• Cheadle Town Council (The Town Level): The most local tier, responsible for maintaining community assets like the cemetery, town parks, allotments, and footpaths. They raise community concerns and comment on planning applications, but they do not have the final say on major developments or national policy.
• Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (The Middle Level): Handles services like bin collections, recycling, and council tax billing.
• Staffordshire County Council (The Strategic Level): Responsible for large-scale services across the county, including schools, social care, and highways, which includes fixing potholes.

The Limits of Town Council Power

It is common for candidates to discuss big-picture changes for our town, but the actual role of a Town Councillor is very specific. To help you make an informed choice, it is worth noting what Town Councils cannot do:

• Roads and Potholes: While a Town Councillor can certainly pressure for repairs, they cannot fix potholes directly or change the highway repair system. These are duties specifically managed by the County Council.
• Infrastructure and Schools: Decisions about building new schools or the delivery of NHS services, like new GP surgeries, fall under the authority of the County Council and the health service.
• Housing Decisions: Town Councillors are asked for their opinions on plans to ensure local voices are heard, but they cannot independently stop housing developments or decide major planning applications.
• National Policy: Local councils do not control national issues such as immigration, the cost of living crisis, or national police funding.

Meet the Candidates

Following the closure of nominations, two candidates are contesting the single seat in the West Ward:

Emma Chatwin (Green Party)

Emma Chatwin is a local mother of four and works as a quantitative analyst. She aims to be a proactive and visible voice for the community and has noted that she recognises the limitations town councillors have.

According to her campaign leaflets, her focus includes:

• Local Service Funding
• Small Business Support
• Local Voices First
• Protect Green Spaces

Lee Bentley (Reform UK)

Lee Bentley was born and raised in Cheadle and has spent 20 years managing residential homes for people with learning disabilities. He has stated that while he represents a party, his primary focus is Cheadle town.

According to his campaign leaflets, his focus includes:

• Support local shops
• Strengthen community health services
• Stand up for ageing residents after the loss of vital hubs
• Deliver more schools and GP services as Cheadle grows
• Improve public safety
• Changing the highway repair system, meaning that potholes will be dealt with more efficiently

Where to Vote: Ward Boundaries and Polling Stations

The West Ward roughly covers the area from Brookhouse Road to the High Street. To save public money, the council decided not to send out physical polling cards for this election.

Polling stations are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Polling District E–E (Vote at Cheadle Primary School, The Avenue)

Residents in this district will vote at Cheadle Primary School. This covers streets including:

• Ash Tree Hill, Attlee Road, Austin Close, Aynsley Close, Balmoral Drive, Bank Street, Bassett Close, Beswick Close, Birchwood Grove, Browning Close, Byron Close, Carlos Close, Carlton Close, Chapel Street, Charles Street, Coalport Close, Coleridge Drive, Commonside, Coneygreave Close, Copeland Close, Coronation Street, Cross Street, Croxden Close, Dandillion Avenue, Delphouse Road, Doulton Close, Draycott Cross Road, Draycott Drive, Dryden Way, Giles Close, Glebe Court, Glebe Gardens, Glebe Road, Greenways, Hardy Close, Harplow Lane, High Street, Huntley, Huntley Close, Huntley Lane, Hurst Close, Kenilworth Walk, Lid Lane, Litley Dale, Litley Drive, Majors Barn, Meadow Drive, Meakin Close, Minton Close, Mobberley, Moorcroft Close, New Haden Road, Oak Street, Paragon Close, Pullman Court, Rawle Close, Shelley Drive, Spode Close, Station Road, Tape Street, Tean Road, Teanford, Tennyson Close, The Avenue, The Birches, The Green, The Paddock, The Sidings, The Sonnet, Town End, Tuscan Close, Victoria Court, Victoria Street, Wade Close, Warwick Avenue, Watt Place, Wedgwood Road, and Wordsworth Close.

Polling District ED (Vote at Bishop Rawle Primary School, Royal Walk)

Residents in this district will vote at Bishop Rawle Primary School. This covers streets including:

• Adderley, Adderley Mill, Bate Lane (Dilhorne), Beaver Drive, Birchenfields Lane, Blakeley Lane, Boundary View, Brookhouse Road, Brookside Court, Church Street, Dairy House Lane, Daisy Bank (Leek Road), Delphouse Road, Dilhorne, Dilhorne Road, Friars Close, Friars Court, Gordon Avenue, Greenways Drive, Hall Orchard, Harewood Close, High Street, Kingsley Moor, Leek Road, Monkhouse, Park Drive, Park Lane, Park Lane Close, Patch Meadow Road, Perkins Lane, Prince George Street, Spout Lane, The Green, The Rindle, The Terrace, and Town End.

A Vital Reminder: Bring Your Photo ID

Under national rules, you cannot vote without showing a physical, original photo ID. Accepted forms of identification include a passport, driving licence, Blue Badge, or an Older Person’s Bus Pass. Even if the document is recently expired, you can still use it as long as the photo still looks like you.