DOUBTS were cast about the future of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass at a Cheshire East Council meeting.

On Wednesday, August 2, Strategic Planning Board members voted to build 235 houses in Warmingham Lane and also discussed Gladman Developments contributions and government grants to the bypass.

Councillors voted that if bypass construction did not start within a certain time period then the £1.2 million from Gladman would be redistributed to education.

The future of the bypass is largely resting on a government decision, expected in the middle of August, to grant £47 million which would pay for 80 per cent of the project.

The remaining 20 per cent has to be funded by CEC.

Cllr Barry Burkhill, who raised his concerns about the funding, said: “What do you mean when you say if the bypass goes ahead? If it doesn’t go ahead then it doesn’t go ahead now.

“With regards government funding, does anyone think we are going to get £47 million from the government for the bypass? The application will go on and on forever.

“I think construction will happen later rather than sooner.”

After the meeting, Cllr Jonathan Parry, Middlewich Town Councillor, said: “This process has been going back and forth for 30 years and it is exactly the same sort of thing that has happened before.

“It wasn’t that long ago that we only needed £2 million to get it built but five years later we’re waiting on such a large amount.

“The problem we have here is we are left wondering how many new developments we are going to have to take before the bypass we were promised gets built.

“It’s got to a point in Middlewich now where we don’t just need the bypass but we’re absolutely crying for it. A lot has changed in 30 years and traffic congestion is only going to get worse.

“I just wish our borough councillors would stand up for our town on this.”