A PETITION to get the bypass complete before any other major development is built in Middlewich has now reached enough signatures to force Cheshire East Council to discuss it.


The petition, set up by Middlewich Labour borough council candidates Rachel Pendleton, Martin Foster and Danny Robinson, has now reached more than 800 signatures online and more than 1,000 signatures on paper.


The total of 1,836 means that Cheshire East Council is now forced to put the issue on the agenda of a full council meeting.


Rachel Pendleton, who is also a Middlewich Town Councillor, said: “The people of Middlewich have done it, they’ve put the bypass back on the council’s agenda.


“We started this petition after the council claimed they had no money to complete the bypass, which is a totally unacceptable statement. This crucial link road was agreed nearly 30 years ago, half-built and there has been no progress in the last 15 years.


“Now we are going to force the council to look at it again and we are going to keep the bypass on the council’s agenda until it is completed. However, we are not prepared to accept any of their past excuses or meaningless promises.


“For too long the cart has been put before the horse - with major developments built without providing the necessary infrastructure. With the town at virtual gridlock our message is clear, no more unsustainable development in Middlewich – infrastructure first, build later.”


This comes after plans were announced by leader of Cheshire East Council, Michael Jones, to reroute the planned course of the bypass to run around the outside of the town.