Leader of Cheshire East Council and a Sandbach councillor, Cllr Sam Corcoran, has made a heartfelt plea for people to vote for Crewe to house the HQ of the Great British Railways.

Cllr Corcoran, who is Cheshire East councillor for Sandbach Heath and East, says winning the bid will provide hundreds of good jobs for the area and it's not just Crewe that will benefit - the rest of the area will too.

"Cheshire is known as a green county with beautiful countryside – people want to live and work here," says Cllr Corcoran, as the public vote reaches its final week

"With a six way connectivity of the rail network, there is a skilled rail workforce and there are several suitable locations for the HQ building close to the railway station," Cllr Corcoran continued.

"Crewe is a railway town - it was formed around the railways at a point where three separate rail lines intersect.

Cllr Sam Corcoran

"There is strong public support for the bid submitted by Cheshire East Council for Crewe to be the location for the new HQ.

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"The technical strength of the bid has been recognised as Crewe is one of only six shortlisted locations.

"However, Crewe is up against much larger places like Derby, Birmingham and Newcastle.

"So we really need everyone in the region to Vote for Crewe if we are to win the public vote."

It's quick and easy to vote – here's the link https://gbrcrewe.co.uk/

So please vote for Crewe #HeartOfRail

Cllr Corcoran's comments come after South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce rallied the support of all its business members and their employees and families to 'Vote Crewe!' earlier this week - in one final push.

The deadline to vote for Crewe to become the new home of Great British Railways ends next Monday (August 15).

Crewe is the last town and North West location in the running for GBR. It is in competition with Birmingham, Derby, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

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Its submission, which can be read online, sets the case: 

"Crewe was born from the railways, developed following the Grand Junction Railway Company's 1837 investment in a new station connecting the Liverpool & Manchester Railways and the London & Birmingham Railways, along with the opening of Crewe Works in 1840. 

"Crewe's strategic location at the heart of the UK rail network means that it remains one of the most important interchanges in the country and a major hub for rail freight transport, uniquely acting as a gateway to the Midlands Engine and Northern Powerhouse regions as well as to Scotland and Wales."

A final decision on the location for the GBR HQ will be made later this year.