MIDDLEWICH First councillors, including Cheshire East ward members Bernice Walmsley, Mike Parsons and Simon McGrory, have hit back at claims on social media they are not doing anything about the waste site development and transport issues.

Cllr McGrory said: “We support attempts by Cllr David Latham under the banner of Action against Ansa to prevent the construction of a waste transfer station on Cledford Lane, but are acutely aware of the difficulties associated in challenging a planning decision like this.

“We will continue to help him in the background and not attempt to take centre stage in his campaign, avoiding political point-scoring.

“We have already explored many options to prevent this development going ahead, but have not found a way to stop the development.

“Cllr Latham believes he has now found a different legal opinion, and we await developments with much interest.”

Middlewich First says it has continued in the meantime to work with Cheshire East Council in resolving transport and infrastructure problems in the town.

“Very soon now Cheshire East Council will agree the submission of a new planning application that will alter the route of the proposed eastern bypass to provide a link junction at Cledford Lane for traffic from the proposed waste transfer station,” said the group.

“The redesign of the route has been under consideration since Cheshire East Council took over responsibility for delivery of the by-pass.

“The borough councillors have been working with council officers to ensure the bypass makes a proper difference to the town rather than simply taking Sandbach traffic away from the town centre.”

Cllr Walmsley said: “In addition, we are still working with East and West Cheshire councils to agree how we relieve the major problem of traffic along the A54 travelling to Winsford and beyond to Chester.

“An east-west bypass is a strategic requirement that would transform Middlewich far more than the Eastern bypass, but would in itself open up additional employment land and house-building opportunities.”

Cllr Parsons said: “Middlewich First continue to champion the Railway link project, and welcome the formalisation of a project delivery board, that among other things will see the bypass planning application through to implementation.

“We also look forward to the imminent creation of a liaison committee to oversee construction work on the waste transfer station.”