Rhys Machin
Reform UK councillor for Audley & Chesterton ED
Active on State
Council: Staffordshire
Term ends: 31 March 2028
I’m Rhys Machin, a local councillor representing the communities I live and work alongside. Before entering politics, I worked in fitness, DJ’ing, customer service and sales, and I’ve always had a strong interest in community issues and helping people directly. I got involved in local politics because I wanted residents to feel listened to and to see practical action on the issues that affect everyday life. My priorities are improving local roads and infrastructure, protecting our villages and green spaces, supporting community groups and local services, and making sure residents have a strong voice when important decisions are made. A big part of my work is helping residents with individual problems and pushing for answers when something isn’t being dealt with properly.
Recent election history
Audley (2026)
Reform UK · 1,098 votes· Elected
Audley & Chesterton (2025)
Reform UK · 1,605 votes· Elected
Contact Information
Role
Cabinet Support Member for Finance & Devolution
Where Rhys fits into things
Constituency
Electoral Division
Rhys Machin
Councillor
Audley & Chesterton ED
About the role
Rhys represents residents across Audley and Chesterton on Staffordshire County Council and Audley ward on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, working on local issues including highways, community services, planning, regeneration and neighbourhood concerns. At Staffordshire County Council, he also serves as Cabinet Support Member for Finance and Devolution, supporting work around the council’s finances, budget priorities, local government reorganisation and devolution, while helping to represent residents’ interests in major strategic decisions affecting Staffordshire.
What councillors do
- Make decisions on local services like housing, roads, and parks
- Represent residents' concerns at council meetings
- Help resolve local issues raised by constituents
- Set council budgets and local tax levels
Current campaigns
What Rhys's actively working on locally
Fixing local roads and drainage
I’m working with Staffordshire County Council to tackle long-standing highways and drainage problems across Audley Parish, including blocked and previously unmapped drainage assets, poor road surfaces and recurring local flooding concerns.
Safer roads around Audley
I’m working with residents, the Parish Council and highways officers on options to improve traffic flow and road safety around Peggy’s Bank, Old Road and the surrounding area, including investigating a possible one-way system.
Protecting our villages and green spaces
I’m working to ensure major development proposals affecting Audley Parish are properly scrutinised, particularly where there could be significant impacts on traffic, infrastructure, countryside and existing communities.
Improving Marion Platts Way
I’m pushing for improvements to Marion Platts Way between Bignall End and Sir Thomas Boughey Academy, with a focus on the condition of the route, accessibility, lighting and making it safer and easier for residents to use.
I support protecting Staffordshire’s county farms and agricultural land for future generations, safeguarding their role in farming, food production and our rural communities while resisting inappropriate development.
Key priorities
The issues they most want to be known for
Better roads and local infrastructure
Protecting communities from inappropriate development
- Protecting Staffordshire’s county farms and agricultural land
Council
Staffordshire (LC)