COUNCIL chiefs have been given the all-clear to take all action necessary to buy the land needed for the Middlewich eastern bypass.

Cheshire East Council’s cabinet agreed that compulsory purchase powers could be used for the scheme if necessary at Tuesday’s meeting.

CEC says there are eight owners and occupiers who will be affected by the Middlewich eastern bypass.

The local authority will work to acquire land by negotiation first and must be able to demonstrate it has done so at any future public inquiries before it can obtain land by a compulsory purchase order – which is seen as a last resort.

Land acquisitions must be in place before the Government releases the funding for the project.

The Department for Transport is set to contribute £46.78 million of the £58.48 million cost of the Middlewich eastern bypass.

The remainder of the cost will be met by developer contributions and CEC’s ringfenced capital funding.