FRUSTRATED campaigners took part in a march to protest the 'completely unacceptable' amount of time it will take to reopen Soot Hill.

The 'Fix Our Road' march, on Saturday, February 4, saw more than 80 campaginers take to the Anderton road, which has been closed in both directions since December 2021.

According to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWAC) recently published timeline for the work, the road is not scheduled to reopen until late 2023, almost two years after the landslide that caused the closure. 

Fix Our Road march organiser, Northwich town councillor Lee Siddall, sees the road closure as an example of ongoing underinvestment in the town.

Northwich Guardian: Northwich will not settle for second bestNorthwich will not settle for second best (Image: Lee Siddall)Cllr Siddall said: “This is the voice of Northwich residents reminding CWAC that Northwich will not settle for second best, and we need investment.

“No matter how complex this fix is, two years is completely unacceptable, and we want this to be expedited.

“Northwich isn't getting its fair share of investment from CWAC, and things need to change.”

Northwich Guardian: Cheshire West and Chester Council have committed £3 million reopen the road, but the campaigners say it won't be done soon enoughCheshire West and Chester Council have committed £3 million reopen the road, but the campaigners say it won't be done soon enough (Image: Lee Siddall)

Responding on Facebook, leader of CWAC, Louise Gittins, said: “We recognise the value of this road to people in the Northwich area. That's why we have committed funding to make this happen.

“This has involved lots of organisations, which has taken time and has been outside our control.

“In the budget in February, there is also funding for Northwich Library, the market project and Moss Farm.

“The council is also committing funding for NOW Northwich again this year.”