PLANS to dramatically increase the size of a major Northwich roundabout have been pulled two days before a public inquiry.

It was announced on Monday that the multi-million pound proposal to transform the five-road roundabout at the junction of Chesterway, Leicester Street, New Warrington Road and Station Road had been axed to consider alternatives put forward by objectors.

The public inquiry that was set to start today, Wednesday, has now been cancelled.

Highways officers for Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), which put forward the original scheme, will now work closely with local businesses to review the alternatives.

Clr Lynn Riley, CWAC's executive member for localities, said: “We have withdrawn the Side Roads Order to allow us to consider the alternative proposals which have been recently submitted, in order to be fair to all parties.

“However, it is important to note that improvements to this roundabout are vital to ensure that Northwich can cope with the increased levels of traffic generated by major regeneration projects such as Barons Quay and Memorial Court, and to ensure pedestrians can continue to navigate our roads safely.”

CWAC's original £3.4 million proposal to remodel the roundabout was revealed in summer 2013.

The authority won 'pinch point' funding from the Government to do the work, along with work to make Northwich's gyratory system permanent.

Plans faced controversy as traders and residents in Station Road feared the size of the new roundabout and what it would mean for parking, bus stops and traffic flow.

The proposal also hit a stumbling block in spring this year when the Secretary of State for Transport identified some changes that needed to be made to the description of the scheme in the official paperwork to aid clarity.

Town mayor Clr Alison Gerrard, who runs Snipets salon, in Station Road, said: "I do agree that something needs to be done with the roundabout as it doesn't cope with the flow of traffic at the moment.

"But it's whether that was the right proposal – and businesses up here did not feel that it was."