A protest by Middlewich residents outside Cheshire East's HQ was just the 'calm before the storm' the organiser said.

Fight for Middlewich demonstrators were protesting on Thursday about the council's 'neglect' of their town.

They could be heard from inside the Westfields offices where an environment committee meeting was taking place, as they constantly blew whistles and were occasionally backed up by drivers blasting their car horns.

Organiser Laura Turner told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Hopefully this is going to let Cheshire East Council know that we're not going away.

"We will be at the next meeting and we will be fighting for our town and given what we deserve.

"We're sick of paying money and getting nothing. All these people are here today – and this is just a small group.

"So Middlewich, on Saturday, at 12pm everyone get down, support the cause but this is just the calm before the storm."

The group, which has a larger protest planned for Saturday, is demanding to know why there has been little or no infrastructure improvements in the town to support new housing developments.

They want to know how section 106 money – a contribution a developer makes towards local services such as education or the NHS – has been spent.

There is anger over the smells and traffic from the Ansa depot on Cledford Lane.

Other concerns include the poorly maintained roads and axing of some gritting routes.

Frustrations have also grown about the state of the cemetery – although this is not run by Cheshire East but the Middlewich Cemetery Board.

And for years the town has been asking for a swimming pool.

One protestor, Caroline, said the town had deteriorated a lot since she moved there 15 years ago.

"Enough is enough," she said. "We seem to be missing out on lots of grants, we seem to be dumped on.

"I'm here to let it be known that we're not happy as residents and we want something done about it."

Sue added: "We just want what we're entitled to, what we pay our rates for.

"We're not asking for any special circumstances or extra money, we just want our fair share to enable us to put some infrastructure in."

A Cheshire East spokesperson said: "Section 106 contributions funds have been secured to support future investment in green spaces, local highways and education facilities, and will also be used to part-fund the construction of the much-needed Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

"Where residents have concerns about their local area or council services and policies, we would encourage them to speak to their local ward councillors in the first instance.

"Our councillors have an important role to play ensuring that individuals' concerns are directed via the appropriate decision-making route for resolution. Contact details for all our councillors can be found on our website, at cheshireeast.gov.uk.

He added: "All councils are facing significant financial challenges, not least due to the additional pressures from Covid-19. This council works hard to serve all residents and communities in all parts of Cheshire East equitably – and we aim to ensure that no towns or communities are favoured or neglected.

"Central government funding to local authorities has been cut significantly over recent years and this limits the ability of councils to respond to all issues as local councillors would like."

The protest on Saturday, November 13, will take place at Middlewich Cenotaph at 12pm.