BOTH Cheshire East Council’s proposed Middlewich developments, the Ansa waste transfer site and Gipsy camp, currently cannot be built until the bypass is complete.

Middlewich Labour candidates appeared in last week’s Guardian launching a petition to get the bypass finished before any other development such as the waste site is built.

However, Middlewich First councillors have reacted to the petition by highlighting a planning agreement they first made in 2007 that states that no major development can be built off the bypass route before the bypass itself is completed.

The agreement was renewed in 2011 and is still in effect, however it is due to expire once again in July next year.

Cllr Simon McGrory, Middlewich First councillor at Cheshire East Council, said: “Several years ago, Middlewich First secured a planning agreement that meant there could be no major developments along the planned route of the bypass until the road was completed.

“Labour claim to agree to any development within Middlewich as long as the bypass goes ahead. Middlewich First believes this will actually be detrimental to the town and will open the flood gates to all major developments, including the waste transfer station and new housing sites.”

"It is wrong to mis-lead the public into thinking that just a petition can get the by-pass completed. At a cost of £24m and as part of the Mid-point 18 development Pochins PLC have the control on whether this road gets built or not. Cheshire East Council has helped in ensuring over £4m from the Government's Regional Growth Fund has been secured to help finance the by-pass.

One of the Labour candidates in this year’s local election, Rachel Pendleton, has defended the decision to launch the petition.

Rachel said: “Labour has put forward a proposition to the people of Middlewich and they are signing up to it in their droves. We will take each planning application on its own merits, but local residents are clearly saying to us that further major development in the town is unsustainable without a by-pass, we are at virtual gridlock.

“We know that the petition won’t get the bypass built, but it will put it back on the council’s agenda after the election, if we can get 1,500 signatures.

“We will continue to give the people of Middlewich a voice through this petition and we would welcome support from all quarters. It is regrettable that the current councillors are not with us.”