UP CLOSE: Sandbach Town Council's newest councillor, Nicola Cook will attend her first meeting tonight (Wednesday) since she was voted in last week.

And the newly elected Elworth councillor, Nicola Cook, an independent, currently councillor elect until tomorrow when she signs her papers, has a clear mandate to achieve during her term of office.

The passionate mum-of-one, who came to the town in 1979 as a child, wants to transform people's views about local politics.

She wants people to become more involved in the future of their town and to truly help shape the next decade and beyond.

Nicola wants the electorate to know they can approach their local councillor about any issue - and feel it's being acted on.

And she really wants to breathe new life into local politics and lay down firm roots so the town prospers in every sense - and it changes people's lives for the better.

"When I was out canvassing it really came across just how much apathy there was with local politics and politics in general.

"Many people didn't know who their local councillor was. I have a Facebook page and one of the things I will be doing is a little piece about meetings what is on the agenda and then afterwards relevant decisions.

"People need to feel connected to decisions. If they aren't listened to they will complain. We need to make people feel they are being heard and listened to.

"We need to build a relationship with residents. I will be championing issues and asking how can we look at what's really happening?"

Nicola has served in many professional roles, including in the NHS and is currently an assistant director of regional operations for the Royal British Legion.

In her paid job, Nicola is championing issues for veterans and members of the Royal British Legion and it is this championing quality which she will now bring to her voluntary role as a Sandbach town councillor.

Only yesterday (Tuesday) she was out at a weekly luncheon club run by a local church and listened to all kinds of issues which she took on board.

Tonight she is attending the Finance, Policy and Governance Committee at Sandbach Town Council as a resident (she doesn't officially become a councillor until tomorrow when she signs the paperwork) and is asking people their views on one item.

One of the things being discussed is funding for this year's Sandbach Transport Festival in 2022 says Nicola.

"The Council has committed 12k to the organisers for this event, but it wasn't spent because of Covid.

"The organisers want a further 12k for the event so that they have 24k in total."

Nicola has asked residents their views on this ahead of her attending the meeting to engage them in the process. .

Nicola was voted on to Sandbach Town Council's Elworth ward in last Thursday's by-election as revealed here.