Road scheme review 'yet another casualty' of HS2

The A500 was set to be turned into a dual carriageway under the original plans

A planned scheme to turn part of a major road in Cheshire into a dual carriageway is "yet another casualty" of the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2, a council meeting heard.

Cheshire East Council has agreed to look into an alternative project as it was unlikely the original plans would get government funding.

The initial £90m scheme involved turning part of the A500 between Crewe and the M6 into a dual carriageway.

The updated project is likely to focus on a different section of the A500, making improvements to the route to Crewe railway station.

Labour councillor Hazel Faddes said the scheme was "yet another casualty of the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2" and the chance of government funding for the original project was "very small".

The council is currently in discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) over funding the alternative project.

A report ahead of the meeting said the DfT had said it was prepared to fully fund an alternative project, although it is expected to cost far less than the original.

"It's important these discussions make sure Cheshire East Council do not lose out financially", she said.

She added that the smaller scheme would "be more acceptable to the DfT".

"We do need to tread with caution but cancelling the scheme altogether could mean Cheshire East Council having to write off the work done to date and the current scheme and our reputation would be at stake," she added.

Independent Craig Browne, who was previously the council’s deputy leader and chair of the highways committee, said the alternative project would save £34m of costs.

"I think to simply proceed with the original outline business case in the light of the HS2 decision would put us in a lose-lose position," he said.

The council will now work on an updated business case for an alternative plan which could take up to 18 months to complete.