THREE Middlewich First councillors in last week’s Guardian are defending their position on the waste recycling plant on Cledford Lane.

While stating support for Cllr Latham in his plight for the acknowledgement of the residents of Middlewich, I am a little bemused why this waste facility could not be built where either the incinerator was to be built alongside the bypass on Pochin Way or off Holmes Chapel Road. This is where the council were going to build a landfill and traffic could be sent via the proposed Eastern bypass if ever it is built.

This would not require a costly upgrade of Cledford Lane and remove the site from nearby residents of Cledford, where the council are allowing more housing to be built.

I agree with the councillors that a connection to Cledford Lane should be made. However, while the councillors seem to indicate that the waste site could be connected to the bypass via this route, have they forgotten that only a few hundred yards away there is a low bridge?

This bridge is an integral part of the rail link campaign being basically the former Cledford Halt and should the road be altered beneath no doubt the carriageway would need to be lifted, further reducing this clearance.

Also at this point the road falls sharply to the swan neck bridge over the old Dam forming part of Sandersonsons Brook which is fed from tributaries from Zulu Bridge (Brererton) and beyond in turn running into the Croco.

The road climbs steeply then to Cledford Hall where the bypass is already built and is behind the hedge.

This dip would cause a nightmare for HGVs adding to congestion, unless the road is straightened and lifted appropriately.

I ask will the Middlewich councillors ensure that Nantwich Road and the town centre of Middlewich will not be used as a rat run for recycling vehicles travelling from Crewe and Nantwich areas when the waste site is built in Middlewich?

Alan Langley Middlewich