PLANS to transform a town centre roundabout have hit a stumbling block and need to be resubmitted.

The five-road junction, which links Chesterway, Leicester Street, New Warrington Road, Manchester Road and Station Road, is in line for £3.4million roadworks to dramatically increase its size.

But Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), which won the money from the Government’s ‘pinch point’ fund, said that a new Side Roads Order for the roundabout has to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport.

A CWAC spokesman said: “The Secretary of State has identified some changes needed to the description of the scheme in the order and plans, in the interests of clarity for those affected by the scheme.

“We have therefore decided to withdraw the old order and submit a new one to the Secretary of State.

“As before, in the coming weeks we will be giving notice of the new Order to those affected.

“These changes do not affect the design of the scheme.”

CWAC said the roundabout needs to be altered to help Northwich’s infrastructure cope with predicted traffic increases generated by the Barons Quay, Hayhurst Quay and Memorial Court developments, as well as housing developments at Winnington, Wincham, Middlewich Road and Lostock Triangle.

Neighbouring shopkeepers have voiced their concerns about the scheme as it includes making the Station Road bus stop an on-road rather than off-road stop, which could cause traffic jams.

They are also worried about parking in the area.

Sue Southern, from Ichthus Christian Books, in Station Road, said: “We will wait and see because it’s only on a technicality and not in principle that they’ve sent it back “I suspect it will still go through.

“But they really need to get their skates on to get work started in time to secure the funding.

“We’ll wait and see but we’re a little surprised that the initial plans weren’t spot on.”