CHESHIRE East Council has been honoured with an award for the safety of its roads, despite ongoing concern in Middlewich.

The council received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for reducing the number of fatal road traffic accidents in Cheshire with the number falling to 28 in 2013, down from 79 in 2007.

The award recognised an innovative partnership between Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, which sees the fire service’s road safety team deliver road safety education at all the area’s schools, covering almost 11,000 children at 130 primary schools and 21 high schools.

The partnership’s work won public recognition as one of the most outstanding examples of international road safety initiatives.

Councillor Michael Jones, Cheshire East Council leader, said: “What a tremendous achievement by the partnership, helping to make our roads so much safer.

“But, as a responsible authority, we will not stop there – we intend to renew this arrangement with the fire service to ensure that we continue to educate our young people about road safety and further reduce road deaths.”

The partnership was commended for its ‘high level of leadership’ and ‘effective deployment of resources to making roads safer’ in what is the first instance of a fire and rescue service being commissioned to deliver this educational work in the UK.

Despite the award, there are still calls for greater road safety measures in Middlewich.

Clr Mike Parsons, says the town’s roads are far from safe and is campaigning for improved road infrastructure.

He added: “Obviously the fact that fatalities have been reduced is nice to know, but it doesn’t stop us carrying on the pursuit of improvement.

“They have given the award on statistics but I think if you actually showed them these roads they may think differently.

“Until we have a safe crossing point at the top end of Lewin Street where the road is widest and fastest and outside the White Horse where it is most narrow and dangerous, I will not be quiet.”