Vale Royal was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It contained the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.

History The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 covering the area of three former districts and part of a fourth, which were abolished at the same time: Northwich Rural District Northwich Urban District Runcorn Rural District (part) Winsford Urban District

The district took its name from Vale Royal Abbey, formerly one of the largest in England, which was situated near the village of Whitegate near the centre of the district. The name was suggested in 1972 by a joint committee of the previous district councils, on the basis of the historic use of the name for the general area of the new district. The district was granted borough status on 5 May 1988, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.

In 2006 the Department for Communities and Local Government considered reorganising Cheshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England. The decision to merge Vale Royal with the districts of Chester and Ellesmere Port and Neston to create a single unitary authority was announced on 25 July 2007, following a consultation period in which a proposal to create a single Cheshire unitary authority was rejected.BBC News, 25 July 2007 – County split into two authorities. Retrieval Date: 25 July 2007.

Vale Royal was abolished on 31 March 2009, with the area becoming part of the new unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester from 1 April 2009.

Civil parishes

The district comprised the following civil parishes:

Acton Bridge Allostock Alvanley Anderton with Marbury Antrobus Aston Barnton Bostock Byley Comberbach Crowton Cuddington Darnhall Davenham Delamere Dutton Frodsham Great Budworth Hartford Helsby Kingsley Lach Dennis Little Budworth Little Leigh Lostock Gralam Lower Peover Manley Marston Moulton Norley Northwich Oakmere Rudheath Rushton Sproston Stanthorne Sutton Tarporley Utkinton Weaverham Whitegate and Marton Whitley Wimboldsley Wincham Winsford

Political control The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1974 until its abolition in 2009 was as follows: (Put "Vale Royal" in search box to see specific results.)

Party in controlYears 1974–1991 1991–2003 2003–2007 2007–2008 2008–2009

Leadership The leaders of the council from 1988 were:

Councillor Party From To Marie Birkenhead 5 May 1988 Arthur Neil 5 May 1988 11 May 1989 David Broster 11 May 1989 10 May 1990 Bernard Burton 10 May 1990 1991 Arthur Neil 1991 Apr 2000 Bob Mather Apr 2000 May 2003 Keith Musgrave May 2003 May 2007 Les Ford May 2007 31 Mar 2009

Composition The political composition of the council at its abolition in 2009 was: PartyCouncillorsConservative 26Labour17Liberal Democrat11Weaverham Independents3

Premises

Until 1990 the council operated from the various offices it had inherited from its predecessors, being Whitehall in Hartford (from Northwich Rural District Council), the Council House in Northwich (from Northwich Urban District Council), Castle Park House in Frodsham (from Runcorn Rural District Council), and Over Hall in Winsford (from Winsford Urban District Council). In 1990 the council consolidated its offices into a new purpose-built headquarters called Wyvern House on The Drumber in Winsford. Wyvern House was formally opened by Princess Margaret on 19 July 1991. Since the council's abolition in 2009, Wyvern House has been used as one of the offices of its successor, Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Council elections 1973 Vale Royal District Council election 1976 Vale Royal District Council election (New ward boundaries)legislation.gov.uk - The District of Vale Royal (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 . Retrieved on 19 November 2015. 1979 Vale Royal District Council election 1983 Vale Royal District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)The Macclesfield and Vale Royal (Areas) Order 1982 1987 Vale Royal District Council election 1991 Vale Royal Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)legislation.gov.uk - The Cheshire (District Boundaries) Order 1988. Retrieved on 6 November 2015. 1995 Vale Royal Borough Council election 1999 Vale Royal Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Vale Royal (Electoral Changes) Order 1998 . Retrieved on 4 October 2015. 2003 Vale Royal Borough Council election 2007 Vale Royal Borough Council election Results maps

By-election results

References

External links Vale Royal Council