CHESHIRE East Council says it has completed a number of jobs required to clear the way for the long-awaited Middlewich Eastern Bypass construction.

The council has applied to its planning department to discharge conditions relating to the planning approval for the bypass, granted in July.

As well as ecological conditions such as habitat creation and landscaping, it has put together a phasing plan detailing how the project will advance in the coming years.

A planning statement detailed six phases, starting with habitat creation works for newts, beetles and badgers as well as tree and shrub planting.

By the summer, further habitat and woodland work will take place before two compound areas are set up by autumn. Phase four will see access from Booth Lane formed.

Winter 2020 to 2023 would see the bypass itself constructed, dependent on land purchase and an approved business case.

Simultaneously, phase six sees improvements to Cledford Lane.

The CEC planning statement added: “The scheme has been proposed to provide enhanced access to the Midpoint 18 site ... support economic growth for Middlewich and ... mitigate traffic congestion in the town and relieving delays on roads linking mid Cheshire towns.