As we draw closer to the local elections on Thursday 6 May, Frodsham Nub News will be interviewing those standing for Frodsham ward councillor on Cheshire West and Chester Council, hearing more about their key priorities and what they would hope to achieve if elected.

Today we caught up with Liberal Democrat candidate, Dr Patrick Eakin, a local GP who has lived in Frodsham for the past seven years.

If chosen to join Cllr Lynn Riley as the town's ward councillor, Patrick would fight for a 'greener, healthier Frodsham', concentrating on its Leisure and Recycling Centres, Saltworks Playing Fields and the proposed A56 bike lane improvements.

"I want to get people healthier, with more active lifestyles. In a town the size of Frodsham I don't think there is any reason why we can't achieve that." Patrick said.

"Walking and cycling more also helps as reduce traffic in the area, which brings an added environmental benefit and creates a nice, relaxed town centre where people want to come and support our local bars, restaurants, shops and pubs."

Frodsham Nub News: Why did you decide to stand for election as Frodsham's Cheshire West and Chester ward councillor and what do you think that you can bring to the role through your experience as a local GP?

Patrick Eakin: "I've always been interested in politics but never really thought of myself doing anything about it. Over the last few years I've become increasingly engaged, which is why I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2017.

"I would sometimes think that maybe I could stand as a councillor, and when Andrew Dawson resigned [from his role as CWAC Councillor in October 2020] an opportunity presented itself. It's something I'd been thinking about for a while, and when the new vacancy was combined with the risk of Frodsham Leisure Centre closing down I thought that I had to act.

"In my day job as a GP I see the consequences of ill health all the time. One of things I'm really keen to promote is using 'lifestyle medicine': avoiding medication when treating problems such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

"There is so much we can do to manage these conditions without using medication. It's a question of going back to the basics: moving more and living healthier lives. As a GP you get such a short time with every patient to explore these solutions with them, and perhaps as a councillor I could expand on that time and try and push for that healthier lifestyle."

FNN: Speaking of Frodsham Leisure Centre and the ongoing uncertainty about its future, what do you think the best option would be for the people of Frodsham?

PE: "Obviously there are significant budget pressures right across the Council and they need to make savings. The thing about Frodsham Leisure Centre is that it is a relatively modest building, but that doesn't mean that we don't need it there to provide a gymnasium. And of course, it's not just a leisure centre, it's a library as well. This is really important for everyone, particularly families with young children, and so whatever happens, we need to provide some space for that.

"However, there is also the potential to build on the spaces available elsewhere in Frodsham, like in Saltworks, where we have four football pitches and a whole lot of empty, unused land. I only recently found out that it also has a changing room and kitchen. I don't think that a massive capital investment is required for these spaces, but there is no question that we need a facility here in Frodsham."

FNN: Recently, there have been calls for improvements to Saltworks Playing Fields. What initiatives would you like to see implemented at the site to help make it a space that the whole community can enjoy?

PE: "Engaging with local residents who live near Saltworks, use it regularly and have lots of great ideas for it, is really important.

"Personally, I think it would be fantastic for Frodsham to have a parkrun down at Saltworks. It's probably the biggest patch of land we have and it extends onto the Marshes so you could comfortably get a five kilometre route there. I've actually worked out a route in my head already!

"Something like that – a free, weekly, community-run event with very little ongoing commitment for the Council – would give people a sense of responsibility for their local area. It would also bring people down to Saltworks, which I feel is slightly neglected in favour of places like Castle Park.

"I think Saltworks has totally underused potential that we can explore and open up. Half of the play area is just bare grass land which isn't being used for anything. I also found out recently that the mound of earth at the end of the site was once a BMX track, which is crazy! Why did we neglect that?"

FNN: In your campaign video you mention tackling the climate emergency – what would you like to see happening in the local area with regards to this and what will you lobby for if you are elected?

PE: "This is something that is really important to me. I actually sold my car last year because I realised that I wasn't using it and didn't need to use it, and by having it I was only tempting myself to drive it for unnecessary purposes.

"I've been doing a lot of work with Cycle North Cheshire, who have got a lot of ideas about what we can do to encouraging cycling in the area.

"One of the key priorities is making sure the Council deliver the cycle route from Frodsham to Helsby High School. I want to make sure that every Frodsham-based pupil who attends Helsby feels that they can cycle to and from school. Perhaps more importantly, I want to make sure that their parents feel it is safe as well. I think it's perfectly reasonable to believe that we can achieve that.

"The main danger is on the A56, so we do need a segregated cycle infrastructure there. But imagine how many cars we could take off the road if parents didn't have to drop their children off at Helsby every morning. And imagine how much time parents would save!

"[Furthermore], the cycle path does not need to be limited to the proposed route, which ends before you even reach the road in front of Helsby High School. There is potential to expand it for children in Helsby as well.

"On the Frodsham end, the path ends at Howey Lane, which is fine if you live on the south side of the A56, but anybody who, like me, lives further down in Waterside ward has still got to get to it.

"There is also potential for routes to follow the railway line and join up via Godscroft Lane, so there are ways to produce a safe way for children on the north side of the A56 to get to the school as well.

"It's part of the Council's cycle and walking plan, so we need to make sure that they deliver on it."

FNN: Another aspect of tackling the climate emergency involves encouraging recycling and responsible waste management in the borough. Over the course of the pandemic, cars have often been queuing down Church Street as they wait to access the centre. How do you think this issue can be solved?

PE: "It's a small site and it's not in the right location. The most important priority is that we don't lose the recycling centre in Frodsham, because it would be terrible for residents to have to travel to Ellesmere Port or further afield. There is clearly demand for the centre, as you can see from the number of cars.

"In the short term, whilst we still have a relatively low volume of traffic using the train station, a logical solution is to queue through the car park, especially as it is council-maintained.

"But that's not a sustainable solution once people hopfully return to work and begin using trains again; it wouldn't be safe. Ultimately there are two simple options. One is to expand the opening hours. If there is more time available, residents have a longer period in which to go to the centre, so hopefully there would be less queueing. The centre is, of course, closed two days a week and I think we need to consider whether this is appropriate when faced with the demand that is clearly there.

"The other option is to decide whether there is a better site available, preferably not in the centre of town because we want this to be for retail and leisure. Maybe somewhere down towards Robert Gleave Garden Centre on the A56 would be more suitable if there is land available."

To find out more about Patrick's campaign, visit the Frodsham ward Lib Dems Facebook page.