THE first of three public events in the Middlewich transport consultation will go ahead this Thursday at St. Mary's Church parish hall in New King Street.

From noon until 8pm, members of the public can drop in to talk to Cheshire East Council staff about the changing trends in Middlewich traffic and travel, and bring up issues they feel need addressing.

Figures published by the council ahead of the consultation revealed that 86 per cent of Middlewich residents drive to work, compared to a national average of 65 per cent.

A minimum of 2,000 new homes have been allocated to Middlewich, which could result in a 31 per cent increase in journeys in the town by 2030 – the highest growth rate in east Cheshire.

The consultation for Middlewich – the largest town in the borough without a train station – will focus on roads, walking and cycling routes, public transport and the eastern bypass.

The bypass, which recently received more than £1 million in funding to prepare a business case, will be subject to a further route consultation next year with an earliest construction start date of 2020.

Cllr David Brown, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, says residents can help inform the council’s bypass business case as it competes with applications nationwide.

Cllr Brown added: "I would like to urge the people of Middlewich to view the exhibition and attend the drop-in sessions.

"This is an important consultation which will assist the council to prioritise those issues that concern the town.”

Further consultation events will take place on September 3 from 10am until 5pm, and September 13 from noon until 8pm.

See more at the library or at cheshireeast.gov.uk/middlewichtransport, where feedback forms are also available.