Fiona Bruce MP: "Securing Middlewich Bypass funding is the highlight of my career"

The bypass project started in 2000 after more than a decade of campaigning from residents and town councillors, but construction stalled due to the recession and economic restraints.

Since then, the battle to find funds has been ongoing and the growing strain on the town’s infrastructure has plagued residents.

Conservative MP Fiona Bruce was elected in the Congleton constituency in 2010 and promised to help secure the completion of the bypass.

Having now secured £46.8 million for the relief road, as announced by transport secretary Chris Grayling MP on Friday last week, Fiona says it is the highlight of her Parliamentary career.

“This is a massive boost for Middlewich,” Fiona said.

“It’s just about the most rewarding thing I have been able to help make possible as an MP, because Middlewich has been under-invested for decades. There has been so much untapped potential in the town of Middlewich and I’m really excited to see how we can go on to tap into that in the near future.

“For me it has been a matter of raising the issue of funding for the Middlewich Bypass time and again with ministers both personally and in the House of Commons since I was elected in 2010.

“But for Middlewich residents, they have been waiting and campaigning for this for much, much longer – nearly 30 years – and I salute their persistence.

“This really has been a team effort, with residents, Cheshire East Council and Middlewich Town Council, all playing their part.”

The Government funding is set to cover 80 per cent of the costs for the scheme and a report from the council in April this year, revealed that the future of the bypass was resting largely on the application for the Government grant.

At a cabinet meeting last month, Cheshire East Council agreed that 20 per cent of the costs should be funded by the council and third party or developer contributions.