CLAIMS of an agreement between Cheshire East and Middlewich Town Council to reroute the bypass have been rubbished.


In last week’s Guardian, Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones issued a statement with bold plans for a freight terminal, ‘garden city’ and 2,000 more homes for Middlewich.


Jones also claimed that he had reached an agreement with Middlewich Town Council to reroute the planned bypass to accommodate the infrastructure.


However, Middlewich Town Councillor and Cheshire East Council Labour candidate for Middlewich, Rachel Pendleton, has hit out at the claims stating that no such agreement was ever made.


Rachel said: “There is no agreement between Cheshire East Council and Middlewich Town Council, as claimed by Michael Jones; it is an ill-conceived Conservative election gimmick that the CEC councillors for Middlewich seem to be playing along with.


“The bypass has always been the council’s responsibility and it is their fault it has not been completed in the 30 years since it was agreed.


“The threat of rerouting it will only delay completion further, as they go into additional consultations and the planning process.


“Cheshire East councillors should focus on delivering the bypass as planned, which is desperately needed now, not playing silly games in the press.”


Middlewich First candidate and one of the three current ward members for Middlewich at Cheshire East Council, Simon McGrory, responded to Rachel’s comments by saying she is wrong to say the bypass is solely Cheshire East’s responsibility.


Simon said: "Middlewich First do not play silly games, far from it we are professional and mature enough to know that representing Middlewich is about putting people first, not trying to score with cheap political jibes.


“Middlewich First are fully behind the Neighbourhood Plan that will allow our residents the chance to shape the future of Middlewich over the next 30 years. It's a shame that Labour choose to ignore what people really want.


“Middlewich First are heavily involved in finding ways to solve many issues, including the bypass saga. However Labour are completely wrong to say the bypass is the solution, and that it is the sole responsibility of Cheshire East.”