Fiona Bruce MP and Middlewich First secure progress
on improvements for Middlewich
After almost a year of pressing Cheshire East
Council to invest in a wide range of major improvements for Middlewich,
confirmation has been obtained by Fiona Bruce of progress on work on town
centre projects.
In a letter sent this week to the MP by Cheshire
East Council, the authority has now responded as attached.
Fiona Bruce said today:
“As Member of Parliament for Middlewich I am pleased that after almost
a year of continuously pressing Cheshire East Council to fairly support the facilities
which Middlewich people deserve, Middlewich First Councillors and I can now
announce clear progress on a very wide range of projects for the benefit of the
town.
There is a way to go yet before residents will see the results of the
extreme hard work we have put in over the past year, fighting for these
improvements, but residents can now see that constructive steps are being taken
to deliver for Middlewich safer roads, better facilities for locals and
visitors, promotion of the town as a boating centre of Cheshire with real
resources behind this and the release of hundreds of thousands of pounds held
by Cheshire East Council to be used for improving areas, town centre
regeneration and other new facilities.
Getting this far has not come without tough words to Cheshire East
Council; and I have no doubt that if we had not seriously challenged them to
deliver on these projects, progress this far would not have been made. I will
not take my feet off the pedals until these improvements have actually been
delivered for Middlewich. In particular
I call on Cheshire East to release the £700,521 they hold for Middlewich
without further delay – there are areas in town which urgently need updating. I
also challenge Cheshire East to progress works on pedestrian crossing
improvements as a matter of urgency, something which must be prioritised for
safety reasons.
I pay credit to Middlewich First Councillors Simon McGrory, Mike
Parsons and Bernice Walmsley for the effective way they work with me, cross
party, in the interests of local people, setting party political differences
aside – this is what residents want and how we can deliver for them.”
Cllr
Simon McGrory speaking on behalf of Middlewich First said:
“I know Fiona works hard for Middlewich
and gives us more than her fair share of time and support. Working together is
the best way we can achieve results. We have spent a lot of time working
through plans and ideas, and I am confident we will get the results that will
benefit Middlewich and our residents.”
Cllr Bernice Walmsley of Middlewich First also
said:
‘After many months of meetings
and discussions it is good to see some support for Middlewich from Cheshire
East Council start to appear in the form of contributions to our FAB Festival,
marketing and the like. However, we have yet to see tangible support on the
bigger projects we have discussed but I am very optimistic that the needs of
Middlewich will no longer be ignored. The ‘proof of the pudding will be in the
eating’ as they say, so I look forward to seeing some real results.’
