PLANS for the new Middlewich Eastern Bypass are ‘well advanced’ according to Cheshire East Council.


The long-awaited bypass was given the go-ahead in April as a condition of the 450-house development on Glebe Farm being granted.


Cheshire East Council say funding has now been agreed for the bypass and huge progress is being made.


A Cheshire East spokesman said: “Plans are well advanced to deliver the Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

Funding has been agreed by the Government through its Regional Growth Fund initiative towards the overall projected costs.


“Additional sums have been secured through development in the area and negotiations are well advanced for completion.


“Legal documents are being finalised in relation to all the funding mechanisms, after which contractors will be procured and further ecological investigations and infrastructure matters will be dealt with before construction starts.”


Despite the council claiming that the bypass plans are in an advanced stage, it is only expected to be completed by 2017 after original projections were for 2016.


“The bypass is expected to be open to traffic in 2017, but more specific dates will be available once the necessary investigations and preliminary activities have been completed.”


The update on the bypass was given in response to Clr Mike Parsons, who hit out at the council in last week’s Guardian about the supposed lack of investment in Middlewich’s roads and road safety.


Cheshire East Council responded by saying that it has heavily invested in the town’s infrastructure.


A spokesman from Cheshire East added: “Over the past two years, Cheshire East Council has made a huge investment in highway infrastructure and road safety measures.


“A significant number of those improvement schemes are in Middlewich, including extensive carriageway patching and surfacing works to Long Lane, Sutton Lane, St Anns Road, Lewin Street and many adjacent roads.


“As well as there have also been flood alleviation works in Croxton Lane, a new pedestrian crossing at Newton Bank, and the speed limit on the A533 Booth Lane lowered to 30mph and 40mph on the approach to the town.”