IN response to Cllr Mike Parsons’ comments (Guardian, November 13), I should like to point out that Cheshire East Council has made a huge investment in highway infrastructure and road safety measures.

A significant number of those improvement schemes are in Middlewich, including: extensive carriageway patching and surfacing works to Long Lane, Sutton Lane, St Anns Road, Lewin Street and many adjacent roads. Also flood alleviation works in Croxton Lane through improvements to the drainage system; all traffic signals and crossings have been upgraded to LED, giving greater visibility and reliability; a new pedestrian crossing has been installed at Newton Bank and the main signalised junction at Leadsmithy Street has been upgraded to give more efficient automated control of traffic flows.

The speed limit on the A533 Booth Lane has been lowered to 30mph and 40mph on the approach to the town; working with local residents and the school, a traffic management scheme on Long Lane South and outside the school has been implemented to tackle road safety concerns; traffic management schemes are programmed to be completed in early 2015 at Long Lane South, East Road, St Michael’s Way and St Ann’s Road.

Also, assessments are currently being undertaken on Lewin Street for a pedestrian crossing and assessment of potential measures on Ladies Walk and Ruston Drive.

Plans are well advanced to deliver the Middlewich Eastern Bypass; funding has been agreed by the Government through its Regional Growth Fund initiative; additional sums have been secured through development in the area and negotiations are well advanced for completion; legal documents are being finalised in relation to all the funding mechanisms, after which contractors will be procured and further ecological investigations and infrastructure matters will be dealt with before construction starts.

The bypass is expected to be open in 2017, more specific dates will be available once the necessary investigations and preliminary activities have been completed.

Contrary to Cllr Parsons’ comments, roads in Middlewich have received considerable attention under CEC’s highways programme.

Cllr David Topping Cabinet member for service commissioning Cheshire East Council