PLANS for Middlewich’s long-awaited eastern bypass will go out to consultation this month as the project moves on apace.

The new road will link the A54 to Booth Lane, and consultation documents are set to drop through every door in Middlewich ahead of public events at the end of March.

Borough councillors, who have worked on the project since it was taken on by Cheshire Eat Council in 2015, have managed to secure bypass access to Cledford Lane, a 50mph minimum speed limit, and a cycleway on the new road.

The planning process is well underway for the scheme, which last year secured £47 million in Government funding and involves a ‘new’ route travelling east of the initial proposals.

Cllr Bernice Walmsley, who sits on Cheshire East Council with colleagues Cllr Simon McGrory and Cllr Mike Parsons, said: “It is very pleasing – and exciting – to see real progress on the bypass.

“With the link to Cledford Lane being included, we can look forward to fewer HGVs on the roads in the town centre.

"The work will go on and we are now able to turn our attention to other traffic issues in the town such as the Lewin Street safety issues.

“I would encourage everyone to go along to one of the consultation sessions to get the correct information about how the bypass will work and be such an improvement for the town.”