A PROPOSAL to close Wheelock Street for social distancing in Middlewich town centre is being challenged.

Cheshire East Council is expected to close the road between the Bull Ring and Darlington Street by Monday, June 15, with signs at each end telling pedestrians to stay two metres apart.

The one-way system in Darlington Street would also be reversed under plans unveiled by CEC over the weekend to make the town centre safer when non-essential shops reopen next week.

But there are concerns the plans would hurt town centre businesses and cause problems for residents in the area.

“I fully sympathise with businesses and residents in Wheelock Street,” said Cllr Jonathan Parry, Labour CEC member for Middlewich.

Northwich Guardian:

CEC's plans for social distancing in Wheelock Street

“The businesses are at the forefront of my mind. They have had it so hard for a long time.

“They have been given a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to try and recoup some of their losses.

“We have got to do everything we can to make sure they can be ready to have as many customers as they can, but also keeping it safe for everyone.”

Instead of the current plans, Middlewich councillors are proposing ‘queueing hotspots’ outside Cynthia’s Bakery, where the pavement is already wider, Rowlands’ Pharmacy, where queueing has already taken place in lockdown, and Chisholm’s.

It would involve losing parking spaces to provide wider areas for pedestrians, and Cllr Parry believes it would be more viable and accessible than the current proposal.

He said: “A lot of people that are disabled can only access Wheelock Street if they drive down and park there, they can’t park at Jack’s and navigate the steps.

“Yes, emergency vehicles could access Wheelock Street by removing the barriers, but that is also an inconvenience for the services that are in an emergency.

“Wheelock Street is not a fully-commercial street either. It’s part-residential now, it’s a different entity to other areas in Cheshire East.”

Middlewich councillors have been in discussions with Cllr Laura Crane, cabinet member, over the issue and clerk Lisa Benskin is preparing a report to hand over to CEC on the matter.

“It might come to nothing but we are doing everything we can to avoid this,” said Cllr Parry.

Northwich Guardian:

CEC says its plans for each town and large village high street in the borough will be under constant review and may be further tailored to meet local circumstances.

Essential access for servicing businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout the closures.

In a statement released last Friday, Cllr Laura Crane, cabinet member for highways, said: “Each of the 16 high streets identified in Cheshire East has been considered individually and measures tailored to local circumstances.

“Local ward members and town and parish councils have been asked for input into the plans and, where this has been received, we have taken close account of these suggestions.

“We are being careful to implement the government’s measures alongside avoiding unnecessary disruption.

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“The works completed by June 15 are an important first step and these measures will be closely monitored and adjusted as necessary.”

The council says it is also working on measures to support walking and cycling as lockdown is eased.

The Guardian has approached CEC for further comment on Wheelock Street.