Middlewich councillors have criticised the lack of policing in the town with one saying residents are paying more for a reduced service.

Clerk Nicola Antoney told this week's meeting of the town council, the last beat meeting had been cancelled and she hadn't seen the town's local officers for weeks.

Mayor Colin Coules said, as far as he was concerned, Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer had broken every commitment he made when he visited the town council in March.

"When he came and spoke to us he gave certain assurances. He said there would be no reduction in the police cover," said Cllr Coules.

Cllr Coules

"We were guaranteed at that meeting we would have one PC and two PCSOs. We have lost one of those PCSOs so we're now down to two. There's two shifts, so basically we've got one officer at any one time."

He said he had written a joint letter, with the clerk, to Mr Dwyer raising these concerns.

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"The response I've had from the commissioner was poor," Cllr Coules told the meeting. "It was trying to justify why the policing is reducing."

He added: "I've challenged him on every commitment he made at that meeting and every commitment that was made at that meeting has been broken."

Cllr David Williams (Lab) said he too was concerned about the 'reduced service'.

Cllr David Williams

"The commissioner introduced quite a large precept increase solely on the basis there would be more officers, so now we've paid the money we're getting a reduced service," he said.

"It isn't on, because it was exceptional that increase, when you compare it to all the other organisations that make up the council tax."

The police commissioner denied policing had been reduced.

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In his response to Cllr Coules, Mr Dwyer said: "Your beat officers are not the only police resources available.

"Middlewich, and the wider Congleton area, have had a substantial increase in police resources. Last year the chief constable and myself opened the new Congleton Local Policing Unit which covers Middlewich.

Police and Crime Commission for Cheshire, John Dwyer

"Were a resident to dial 999, it would not be the beat officer that responded to the call it would be an officer from the new local policing unit."

He said, in the letter, that before the Congleton LPU opened the officer would probably have had to respond from Crewe.

"Middlewich is undoubtedly better served by this significant investment of police resources into the area," said Mr Dwyer.