CHESHIRE East Council’s deputy leader has told a cabinet meeting that Middlewich has “not been waiting very long” for its eastern bypass.

Cllr David Brown, who is also cabinet member for highways, made the comments at a meeting last week in response to questions from Middlewich Town Council members Carol Bulman and Jonathan Parry.

Cllr Parry asked the council to stick to the proposed route in order to cut delays and costs, and to “do something for the people of Middlewich” rather than for the benefit of HS2 or further development.

Cllr Brown responded: “Does anybody know the work that is going on on the SEMMMS road out of Stockport round to the airport? That started 45 years ago.

“Poynton is just getting to the stage where we are putting some design plans together – that started 38 years ago. Congleton, we have planning permission for – that started 42 years ago.

“So you haven’t been waiting very long in Middlewich for this one, have you, if it’s only 35 years.”

Cllr Brown went on to address the recent Government funding acquired by Cheshire East Council, where Middlewich’s eastern bypass won more than £1 million to build a business case.

The council, whose month-long Middlewich transport consultation came to a close on Friday, is also keen to move forward on developing walking and cycling routes in order to alleviate traffic woes in the short term.

News from the council suggests that the bypass is still some years off, with work not expected to start before 2020. Cllr Bulman’s question on this subject prompted Cllr Brown to say “Middlewich is complicated. Boy oh boy is it complicated from a transport point of view.”

A further transport consultation, focusing on route options, is mooted “before Christmas” with the business case due to be presented to the Department for Transport in the spring.