CONSERVATIVE Northwich councillors say they are ‘frustrated and disappointed’ over the lack of progress on re-developing Weaver Square.

The eleven Tory representatives also say that the Labour-run Cheshire West council has made ‘no visible progress’ on the site, despite two public consultations in 2016 and 2018.

It comes as CWAC’s cabinet provided an update on the project last week.

The statement from the Conservative councillors said: “Conservative members for Northwich are becoming increasingly frustrated and disappointed with the lack of urgency and decision making on Weaver Square, five years after two public consultations in 2016 and 2018, with no visible progress being made.

“This Labour run council is looking at yet a third consultation, yes, a third consultation! Leading to another four years of dither and delay as nothing is allocated in the budget for the next four years.

“We urge them to take action in progressing the vision for Weaver Square to support a sustainable economy to thrive by investing in sorting out the surface water drainage issues – for which they have responsibility and delivering the Northwich Transport Strategy.”

The statement concludes by suggesting leaders should ‘finish off upgrading the public realm on the high street’.

At last week’s full Cheshire West council meeting, Labour’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Richard Beacham, gave an update on how the scheme was progressing.

He said: “The council’s currently engaged in discussions with Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust about the possible relocation of Victoria Infirmary facility to the site. We have also engaged with Homes England regarding a potential residential development on the site too.

“Bringing public services, residential accommodation into the town centre is in line with our recent findings from our town and city centre high street commission, so I know members of the council will be supportive of these kinds of ideas.

“Clearly, Northwich Market and a new public space in the square as well would be components to any future development on the site, and the council has started to explore exciting ideas for a new market and surrounding public realm.

“To trial these ideas for the square, a new outdoor space is being created, which when it is safe to do so, will be a place in the town for people to come together to eat, to drink, work, meet friends, meet family.

“[That’s] the space on the site of the fire-damaged market, and it will improve the appearance now of the recently demolished building, pending any planned redevelopment of the wider site as these masterplans for Weaver Square more broadly progress.”

Work has now begun on transforming the site of the market into the public space.