Councillor questioned cost of Middlewich road

A councillor said he was “struggling to understand” how spending £107 million on the town’s new bypass could be justified as a good use of taxpayers’ money.
Middlewich has been waiting 40 years for the new road, which is expected to be built next year following numerous delays.
But Coun John Bird (Middlewich) told the Cheshire East Council meeting on Wednesday that he did not properly understand the council’s view that the bypass would significantly improve traffic flow through the town and reduce the danger of traffic congestion as well as pollution.
He added he could find no data to back up the claims either.
“For over 30 years, this bypass has been on the cards. Are we to believe little has changed since then?” said Coun Bird.
He suggested a better use of the funds might have included re-opening Middlewich train station “and building a less significant bypass supported by intelligent planning and decision making where residents, local businesses and local councillors are also consulted in a meaningful manner”.
“At a cost of over £107 million, I struggle to understand how this could be justified as a good use of taxpayers’ money,” said the Middlewich councillor.
He added he did recognise there should be some benefit to the town.
“I do not see an intelligent way forward other than to support the decision that seems irreversible”.
Sandbach councillor Nicola Cook said she was not “filled with joy” at the prospect of the new road.
“We are approving a spend of £108 million pounds on a 1.6-mile length of road, taking £10 million from other Cheshire East transport schemes, and a potential £5.5 million from the new devolved authority transport budget,” she said.
“This scheme isn’t about reducing congestion, it’s about relocating it (to Sandbach).” And she asked: “Why is this scheme going ahead? The answer is simple, the council has already invested £27 million in the preparation of the bypass.
“To halt now, would risk a section 114 notice (effective bankruptcy).”
She said the residents of Sandbach, and in particular Elworth “would live with the negative consequences for generations to come”.
Coun Carol Bulman (Middlewich) said: “I think this is really very good news for Middlewich.”
She said as well as relieving congestion in the town, it would bring 6,500 new jobs, “which is a huge boost to our local economy”.
“There will be more houses, and as long as they’re the right sort, social housing included, I’ve no objection to that,” she said.
Highways committee chair Coun Mark Goldsmith (Wilmslow) said there had been 30 years of campaigning by residents and councillors to get the road built and 10 years in the making to get it to this point.
“I think we just need to get on and get it finished now”.
Couns voted to increase the budget to £107.67 million for the scheme and to accept the remainder of the £46.78 million grant from the Department for Transport.
The vote was 61 in favour, two against and five councillors abstained.