INFANTS in Northwich and the surrounding villages are missing out on free school milk - because local councils are lazy, according to a Winsford councillor.

Winsford's infant schools are all provided with free milk, paid for by the town council and backed by subsidies from Europe.

Clr Tony Hooton said every parish council in Vale Royal could have followed suit last year when they were invited to a briefing to learn more about providing school milk.

However, the response has been very poor, with no reply from any of the councils.

Clr Hooton said: "In Winsford we are particularly disappointed, we think the provision of milk for the first three years in school has been shown to be beneficial."

Winsford Town Council budgets £38,000 a year to provide its 12 infant schools with milk, but claims £20,000 back from the European Community.

Northwich Town Council would foot a similar milk bill if they did likewise.

Smaller councils would pay much less as they have fewer schools within their boundaries.

Northwich Town Clerk Jenny Tait said: "I have managed to locate the letter Vale Royal Borough Council sent, outlining the school milk scheme in Winsford.

"It was put on the town council agenda. It was just received and noted - no action was taken.

"The councillors said they would be raising the matter at the working groups for Frodsham, Winsford and Northwich Parish Council Forums but we haven't heard anything since."

Keith Holland, Chairman of the Cheshire branch of the National Farmers' Union, warns if councils do not make the most of the money available, Brussels may withdraw the funding.

He said: "All they have to do is ring the NFU if they are seeking advice."

WHAT OTHER TOWN COUNCILS SAY

Northwich

Clr Ron Woodier, from Northwich Town Council, said: "Winsford have had milk since Vale Royal Borough Council came into being. The difference between Winsford and Northwich is that we provide for the other extreme - in the form of passes and tokens for the elderly.

"We can't do both, and obviously now it would be very difficult to top up. But we would consider it financially."

Weaverham

Chairman of Weaverham Parish Council, Clr Brian Jamieson, said: "We have looked at providing school milk and we priced it up, and the cost was not huge.

"But it went no further than the preliminary discussions.

"I personally think it is a good idea, but whether or not the Weaverham rate payers agree is a different matter."

Rudheath

Rudheath Parish Council has agreed to put the matter of school milk on the agenda for its next meeting.

Davenham

Clr Arthur Wood, from Davenham Parish Council, said: "Davenham did consider it when there was a lot of publicity a few years ago.

"I think a lot of people in smaller parishes would find it very expensive to supply school milk and there was a good reason presumably for stopping supplying it years ago.

"I think a lot of parishes are very surprised that Winsford is actually doing it." Hartford

Hartford Parish Clerk, Sue Wakeford, said: "It is not a case of us being lazy at all, everything that comes in is put to the council, but there is no chance we can afford it unless there is enough money in the budget for the year."