A DIFFUSION tube in Middlewich is one of dozens that were deliberately manipulated by Cheshire East Council.

According to the external report by Bureau Veritas, which was commissioned by borough chiefs after flaws in air quality data were identified last year, 38 diffusion tubes across east Cheshire had their data either deliberately or systematically changed in 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014.

The report says the CE136 diffusion tube, in Chester Road, was systematically changed in 2013.

CEC admitted last month that it had changed air quality data, and that this caused the council a number of problems – including incorrect data being used in planning applications.

No planning applications in Middlewich were affected by the data manipulation according to the external report, but Bureau Veritas highlights developments in Crewe, Nantwich, Stapeley, Sandbach, Congleton and Holmes Chapel which received planning approval following incorrect air quality assessments.

Following an internal assessment of the report, CEC claims that those planning decisions would not be different when correct air quality data is used.

But Cllr Sam Corcoran, who contested Middlewich’s Congleton seat in June’s General Election for Labour, questions CEC’s assessment – and is joining the calls for heads to roll at Westfields following the report’s damning revelation.

He said: “One of the problems which CEC now faces is credibility.

“We know that figures were manipulated, but we don’t know who manipulated them. We can only assume that the person responsible is still at the council.

“We can also only assume that the person who failed to spot the manipulations over several years is also still at the council. Any rebuttals from the council may be coming from those same people.

“I hope that the council will continue to investigate who manipulated the figures and why.”

A Cheshire Police investigation into the matter is ongoing.