MIDDLEWICH’S roads have been branded as ‘seriously unsafe’ by Clr Mike Parsons.


Clr Parsons, who is a ward member for Middlewich at Cheshire East Council, has hit out at Cheshire East Highways, saying that nothing is ever done about the state of the dangerous roads in the town.


The councillor’s outrage has come after a recent Highways Survey was published by Cheshire East Highways to ask for feedback on how stakeholders perceive their performance over issues under their control.


Clr Parsons said: “Unfortunately, when being asked to comment on how we find such things as the control of traffic levels, congestion and road safety in general, along with how do we rate pedestrian and disabled crossing facilities, in the case of Middlewich being anything other than negative would be denying reality.


“In my submission, I found myself forced to highlight the ‘Very Disappointed’ column in response to practically every question.


“The absence of pedestrian crossing facilities at Town Bridge and Nantwich Road, together with the unacceptable levels of congestion and danger on Lewin Street and St. Ann’s Road have long been both known about and ignored and so we are forced to have to keep reapplying for that which should already be in place.


“St Ann's Road is totally unsafe for pedestrians and schoolchildren as it is a minor residential street which has been turned into a main thoroughfare without due recognition of the safety risks this has brought.”


Clr Parsons also said he was sick of the excuses being given and wanted action to be done.


He added: “Whilst I understand only too well, the pressures and constraints that resource and budgetary limitations put the Council under, this cannot be allowed to be used as an excuse, year upon year.


“They can no longer continue to bury their head in the sand and must stand up and acknowledge their responsibilities.”


Cheshire East Council responded to Clr Parsons' claims, saying they have invested heavily in Middlewich's roads.

 

"Over the past two years, Cheshire East Council has made a huge investment in highway infrastructure and road safety measures and a significant number of those improvement schemes are in Middlewich.

 

"These include upgrading all traffic signals and crossings  to LED, giving greater visibility and reliability and extensive carriageway patching and surfacing works to Long Lane, Sutton Lane, St Anns Road, Lewin Street and many adjacent roads."