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Kaleigh Watterson

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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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 🐱

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Aug 15

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Aug 14

Interesting update on this one - the plans have been withdrawn, just hours before the meeting:

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

#news #cheshire #culcheth

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Aug 14

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Aug 6

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Aug 1

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 21

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 21

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 17

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 16

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 11

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 9

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 8

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 7

Watch on iPlayer now:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Politics North West - 06/07/2025

The latest political news, interviews and debate.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 6

You can see more on this on BBC Politics North West shortly - BBC One at 10am or catch up afterwards on iPlayer

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.

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jul 3

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 25

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 20

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 20

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 20

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 16

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

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 16

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 16

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.

Kaleigh Watterson @kaleighwatterson.bsky.social · Jun 11

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.