Footbridge will not be built despite 13-year wait

A footbridge at a housing development in Congleton that was agreed 13 years ago will never be built and no money will be provided by the developer, a council has confirmed.

Cheshire East independent councillor Rob Moreton said he was in "total disbelief" no funds would be pursued from the developer of Astbury Place, while the local town council said it was "dismayed".

There were "significant challenges" around providing the proposed bridge, Cheshire East Council said, and it had "not been possible" to reach an agreement with the developer over an alternative contribution instead of the bridge.

Developer Morris Homes declined to comment.

The Astbury Place development was given planning permission in August 2013, with a condition that before work was to start on the development "precise detail" for the bridge, including timescales, should be approved by the council.

A section 106 agreement, also dated August 2013, said that no more than 60% of the properties sold on the open market "shall be occupied until the bridge has been installed".

Rob Moreton, who is the current deputy mayor of Cheshire East, said: "To say I am frustrated is an understatement.

"I am in total disbelief that we are now in 2027 and were informed last week by Cheshire East Council officers there is nowhere to go with the bridge due to the time gone by, costs involved and many more reasons which I feel are feeble excuses."

Suzy Firkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Congleton Town Council and the mayor of Congleton, said the town council was now "considering all options which could reverse this decision".

"Congleton Town Council was dismayed to learn from the Cheshire East Council of their decision for Morris Homes not to provide a pedestrian bridge as required under the Section 106 agreement, or in the absence of a bridge, not to provide any alternative financial provision," she said.

Mick Warren, Cheshire East's cabinet member for planning, housing and regeneration, said following the submission of detailed proposals for the bridge in 2022, a number of "significant challenges became clear" including the impact on Congleton Park and concerns around the stability of the river embankment.

He said when it was included in the original application and legal agreement, there was "no meaningful detail" on how the bridge would be built.

"The council also explored the possibility of securing an alternative financial contribution in place of the bridge with the developer. However, it has not been possible to reach a solution that meets the legal requirements governing the use of Section 106 funding.

"Given that discussions have been ongoing for a considerable period without resolution, and the length of time since the original agreement was made, the council has concluded it will not pursue enforcement.

"This means the footbridge will not be delivered, and no alternative Section 106 contribution will be secured."

But Moreton was critical of the authority and said taxpayers' money had been "lost".

"The blame for this failed project must go to Cheshire East Council for not chasing hard enough over 10 years and being given the runaround by a developer is a joke and lessons need to be learned and fast," he said.

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