A ‘WINSFORD Transport Strategy’ considering a new bypass and improved connectivity to the M6 will be presented to the council’s cabinet next week.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) cabinet will be presented with a report on the scheme on Wednesday, July 20, which has been produced alongside a Development Framework to respond to access challenges and wider transport opportunities.

The two pieces of work complement each other, with options developed to encourage both redevelopment and transport infrastructure.

They provide opportunities to improve Winsford including considering a bypass for the town, local sustainable trips and improved connectivity to the M6.

Cllr Brian Clarke, cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure, said: “Since the Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in 2014, Cheshire West and Chester Council has been working with Winsford Town Council and other partners to identify how we can start to instigate investment in the town.

“The Winsford Transport Strategy is a key element to developing a thriving economy, one of our aims is to ensure we have a well-connected and accessible borough.

“The Development Framework provides a practical toolkit to drive forward regeneration proposals within the town. It addresses important design issues, private and public development opportunities and local aspirations that will facilitate delivery on the ground.”

Businesses and residents in Winsford were consulted on both documents with over 500 responses received.

Eighty-nine per cent of respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the issue that Winsford Station has a lack of car parking, and the scheme to co-ordinate taxi buses with train arrivals/departures at Winsford Station had the highest overall priority.

Scheme options to re-open the rail station in Middlewich to support direct connections to Manchester, as well as the introduction of a rail link between the Mid Cheshire Line and West Coast Mainline also ranked in the top five of the 23 schemes assessed.

The scheme to explore options to build a new bypass and improve links between Winsford and the M6 at Junction 18 had the highest proportion of ‘strongly agree’ responses of all the schemes consulted upon.

Responses to the issues raised in the development framework were equally positive, 74 per cent of people agreed that the projects identified by the document should be given the highest priority.

Winsford Cross Shopping Centre was identified as the highest priority with 90 per cent of respondents choosing this option. High Street was next followed by Town Park, and Verdin Exchange.