DETAILED plans on the work of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass will be revealed in the coming months, according to Cheshire East Council.

Cheshire East Council has claimed that a ‘detailed investigation’ is currently being carried out regarding plans for the long called-for bypass through the town, and said a report containing a programme of work will be released this autumn.

The borough council wrote to Middlewich Town Council to give an update on progress of the project.

The letter also explained that Cheshire East Council originally had a Section 278 agreement with construction company Pochin’s, meaning Pochin’s agreed to fund all or part of the bypass, but the council has now taken the ‘lead delivery role’.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said: “The council remains extremely committed to a bypass, as it is seen as essential for the town centre. As a result the council are now taking the lead delivery role, rather than rely upon the existing Section 278 agreement with Pochin’s.

“The council is already undertaking a detailed investigation, which will report during this autumn and provide a programme of work as to how to take this project forward to delivery.

“The council is also assessing what improvements can be made in the short term to address some of the concerns regarding pedestrian routes and crossing points within the existing Middlewich road network.

“Through this process we will continue to work with the developers of the Midpoint 18 site and other related development sites in order to progress a bypass route.”

The letter to the town council comes after a motion was passed at a town council meeting in May to approach Cheshire East Council and ask for timetable for construction.

Middlewich town councillor David Williams said he welcomes the latest update from Cheshire East Council, but to wait 10 weeks for a response is ‘a disgrace.’

Cllr Williams said: “We finally received a response from Cheshire East Council about Cllr Mike Hunter's motion to get a timetable for construction of the bypass, which was passed 5:4 on May 19. I have to say that having to wait 10 weeks and them ignoring the chasing from the town clerk is a disgrace.

“I very much welcome Cheshire East Council's agreement to provide a programme of works to complete the bypass, which is exactly what the motion to Middlewich Town council was seeking.

“I've asked for a more precise timetable for the report than autumn. Having seen the Chancellor of the Exchequer deliver an ‘autumn statement’ in December, I want to be clear what CEC means by autumn. We can't afford further dither and delay.”