Sandbach has reacted to the sad news that Cheshire East Council is shutting its plush HQ in town – 15 years after it first opened.

The closure decision was taken at the meeting of the council's corporate policy committee last Thursday (November 30th), and is part of the 'workplace' programme.

A 19th century mansion house, the former home of the Foden family, the iconic truck business on which Sandbach's fortunes were built, was knocked down to make way for the new council HQ.

Westfields, in Middlewich Road, opened in 2008 as the headquarters of the then-Congleton Borough Council, before it became part of Cheshire East when the authority was formed in 2009.

Sandbach's Westfields has been the HQ of Cheshire East Council since 2009/ (Photo: Nub News)

Although the move has to be made for financial reasons, Sandbach residents and people working in the town have met the news with sadness.

Cheshire East district councillor for Sandbach's Elworth ward, Councillor Nicola Cook, said: "Cheshire East Council is facing unprecedented financial challenges and the Council are having to make very difficult decisions.

"The closure of Westfields is one such decision, and whilst it is the right one for the Council, I do have significant concerns about the impact this will have on local businesses and employment opportunities in Sandbach.

"I would hope that Westfields is not sold off, remains owned by the Council, and is redeveloped so that it generates money for the Council, but ensures that the local Sandbach economy is not affected. This is truly a sad day for our local area."

Ceri Lloyd, Chief Officer at Sandbach Town Council said: "As officers, we continue to work closely with Cheshire East colleagues in the interest of effective partnership working and getting the best for our residents.

"I'm sure this will continue whatever the accommodation arrangements."

Cheshire East Council's leader, Councillor Sam Corcoran, who lives in the town, is also saddened by the move.

He said: "While residents and businesses may have mixed views about their council and its presence in a town, I for one will be sorry to see Cheshire East Council move out of Westfields.

"It is said that you only really appreciate something when it is gone and my initial thoughts are to the local shopkeepers and traders who have supported the workforce and visitors of Westfields.

"I hope that Westfields will continue to be used either as offices by another entity or be repurposed for some alternative use.

"The first step that has now been taken is to decide that it is surplus to the requirements of Cheshire East Council as office space. Future uses of the site will now be pursued."

Local residents have also reacted to the news.

One said on Social Media: "I don't believe there is any demand whatsoever for office space in the area from the private sector so that suggests to me some kind of alternate public sector use or demolition and sale for housing but if no one is interested it will become an empty millstone and CEC will have wasted another chunk of cash."

Another said: "I remember the beautiful old building - which they bulldozed to make way for this useless monstrosity - all they ever needed to have spent money on was on making that beautiful old building accessible to those with disabilities. There was never any need to replace that building with this waste of money/space."

Commenting on the demolition of the mansion house which made way for Westfields, another said: "They got rid of the beautiful house which stood there years ago to build this building in the first place and now their closing it? Sad times."

What do YOU think? What would you like Westfields used for? Comment below or email [email protected]