Kaleigh Watterson
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kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Kaleigh Watterson
@kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
110 followers 120 following 160 posts
The BBC's political reporter for Cheshire. Cat lady, Sandgrounder, fan of loud tights.
Find me:
📺 Politics North West, North West Tonight
📻 Radio Manchester, Radio Merseyside, Radio Stoke
🖥️ bbc.co.uk/news
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kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Dec 6
I've realised I never did a proper intro on here, so hello! I'm Kaleigh (without a 'y') & I'm the BBC's political reporter for Cheshire, covering stories on TV, radio & online.
I'm originally from sunny Southport, I never get over my emo phase & I live with my two absolutely gorgeous cats 🐱
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Vandalism of parking machines in one Cheshire village has led to the council removing them - and only accepting app or phone payments

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Prestbury: Council axes parking machines after vandalism
Machines are removed from a car park in the Cheshire village of Prestbury after several incidents.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Interesting update on this one - the plans have been withdrawn, just hours before the meeting:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#news #cheshire #culcheth
August 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Local councillors are set to speak out against the plans at a meeting this evening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Culcheth: Shopping site plan to be discussed by councillors
Residents are concerned part of the shopping complex could be turned into residential accommodation.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Councillor abuse is becoming a "national problem", says one Cheshire East Council councillor after a survey found around a third of the authority's members had considered standing down due to harassment and intimidation.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire East: Councillor abuse 'becoming a national problem'
Abuse and harassment of councillors needs a
www.bbc.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 8:42 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Councillors on Cheshire East Council say they're facing abuse, harassment and intimidation - including death threats, stalking and having their private information put on public forums or websites

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire East councillors faced 'stalking and death threats'
A third of councillors who responded to a survey said they had considered quitting.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 1, 2025 at 1:52 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
MP calls for West Coast Main Line improvements
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Crewe and Nantwich MP calls for West Coast Main Line improvements
Crewe MP Connor Naismith also wants the government to
www.bbc.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 10:38 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
A one-year delay to Cheshire's first mayoral election has been welcomed

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire and Warrington mayoral election one-year delay welcomed
Politicians across Cheshire welcome a move to push the county's first election back by 12 months.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
A big change is coming - 16 and 17 year olds will be able to vote by the next general election.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Voting age to be lowered to 16 by next general election
Other planned changes include expanding voter ID to include bank cards and moving to automatic registration.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 17, 2025 at 9:49 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Leaders of Cheshire's three councils have called for their first mayoral election to be delayed for a year

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire councils call for mayoral election delay to 2027
Cheshire councils ask the government for their first mayoral election to take place a year later.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
With the former M&S in Crewe going up for auction, one councillor says he's written to brands like Primark and The Range asking them to consider opening there

#crewe #cheshire #news #retail

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Call on retailers to take on empty Crewe M&S site
The vacated building in Crewe town centre is to go before auction.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 11, 2025 at 6:34 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Cheshire East Council is "slow to respond" to issues, an independent panel says

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#Cheshire #news
Cheshire East Council 'slow to respond' to issues, says panel
An independent panel says a Cheshire council is
www.bbc.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Ministerial envoys are set to start work at Warrington Council after the government signed off plans to intervene in the authority.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Warrington: Government intervenes at council with £1.8bn debt
The government says the move
www.bbc.co.uk
July 9, 2025 at 1:50 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Big news for Middlewich - the long-awaited Middlewich bypass has been given the go-ahead by the government
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#news #cheshire #middlewich
Middlewich: Long-awaited Cheshire bypass gets green light
The Department for Transport has confirmed funding for the new Middlewich Eastern Bypass.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 8, 2025 at 8:57 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
You can see more on this on BBC Politics North West shortly - BBC One at 10am or catch up afterwards on iPlayer
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 4
I spoke to a Cheshire farmer and MP Aphra Brandreth about her private members' bill to extend powers around dog attacks on livestock. It's being discussed in the Commons this morning

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire farmer backs change to policing rural dog attacks
A farmer welcomes a new bill which aims to update the current laws on livestock attacks.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 8:58 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
I spoke to a Cheshire farmer and MP Aphra Brandreth about her private members' bill to extend powers around dog attacks on livestock. It's being discussed in the Commons this morning

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire farmer backs change to policing rural dog attacks
A farmer welcomes a new bill which aims to update the current laws on livestock attacks.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Up to 250 jobs could go at Roberts Bakery in #Cheshire. MP Andrew Cooper @andrewcooper.net says it is "devastating news for Northwich and for the many families affected".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Family-owned Roberts bakery firm planning to cut up to 250 jobs
Roberts says
www.bbc.co.uk
July 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
An under-threat library in Warrington will now stay open, the council says. More than 2,000 people responded to a consultation on library changes and local school pupils held a protest too.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pupil protest leads to council u-turn on Warrington library closure
Westbrook Library is to stay open a self-service basis while work is underway to secure its future.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
A Cheshire council has regained control over its cemetery - in a long-running dispute.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Middlewich Town Council regains control over its cemetery
Middlewich Council says it has
www.bbc.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Campaigners say they're reached a "breakthrough" over plans for Poynton Pool
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Campaigners reach 'breakthrough' with council Poynton Pool tree plan
A group trying to save trees at the Cheshire beauty spot say they have been told their plan is viable.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform MP Sarah Pochin's housing crime comments criticised
A council leader and police and crime commissioner call on the MP to retract her comments.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Macclesfield MP Tim Roca @timrocamp.bsky.social has praised campaigners who had campaigned against building on peatland in the town

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#macclesfield #cheshire #news
Danes Moss: MP praises fight against housing plan on peatland
Campaigners mounted an
www.bbc.co.uk
June 16, 2025 at 11:28 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Warrington Council says it could be paying £1,100 a day for government-appointed envoys
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#news #cheshire #warrington
Warrington Council could have to pay £1,100 per day for advisers
Warrington Council says it could have to pay £363,000 for advice from government-appointed envoys.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 16, 2025 at 11:26 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Parts of Cheshire could get control of their buses as a pilot franchising scheme is set to come in Cheshire West & Chester

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#cheshire #news #buses
Cheshire West and Chester area set for bus franchising pilot
The move would mean Cheshire West and Chester Council would take overall control of its buses.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 16, 2025 at 11:25 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
Residents in parts of Cheshire are set to be limited in the number of times they can visit their local tips

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheshire West and Chester Council to limit tip visits in bid to save cash
Cheshire West and Chester Council said people making unauthorised tip visits were a drain on finances.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 11, 2025 at 9:03 AM
kaleighwatterson.bsky.social
The towns and surrounding rural areas of Mid Cheshire have a proud heritage - but what does a new plan for the area mean for those living and working there?

I spoke to people in Northwich & Mid Cheshire's first MP for 100 years @andrewcooper.net

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#cheshire #news
Mid Cheshire: 'This area has massive untapped potential'
What does a new plan to encourage more investment into Mid Cheshire mean for the area and residents?
www.bbc.co.uk
June 9, 2025 at 12:19 PM