£1.25m funding for bypass scheme in Cheshire

FUNDING worth £1.25m has been secured by Cheshire East Council for the proposed Middlewich Bypass scheme.

The council has been successful in a fast-track bid to the Department for Transport for large local major schemes, supported by the Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Partnership.

A single grant payment will be made by government to finance the council’s completion of the outline business case for the scheme.

Cheshire East Council keader Rachel Bailey said: “This is fantastic news to receive.

 “It enables us to complete a process for proving the business case for the delivery of a much-needed bypass in Middlewich and we intend to press ahead with this at the earliest opportunity.

“Our aim will be to meet with the approval of residents and businesses, and secure the capital finance needed to deliver the project.

“This is a result of strong partnership working involving the constituency MP Fiona Bruce, local ward members and the Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Partnership.

“It has also come at an opportune moment as we launch our traffic and travel consultation with the residents and businesses of Middlewich to get their views on the town’s transport needs.

“This Council is working hard to deliver a solution to the traffic problems in Middlewich and, whilst we recognise a by-pass is only part of the answer, the news today is a major step forwards.”

The announcement by the DfT in London coincided with a visit by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to the Manchester Airport Relief Road project at Poynton.