Major blow for £90m road scheme

Plans to upgrade part of the A500 between Crewe and the M6 have been dealt a major blow after the government confirmed it will not fund the £90m road scheme.

The project would have turned part of the route into a dual carriageway, but Cheshire East Council said it had now been removed from the government's major road network programme.

Council leaders described the decision as "deeply disappointing" and warned a significant opportunity to support Crewe's future growth had been lost.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said it had to make "difficult decisions on a number of road projects".

The scheme was given planning permission in 2023 and aimed to improve a key route linking Crewe with junction 16 of the M6.

However, it was placed under review in early 2024 after the government cancelled the northern leg of HS2, which would have included a hub station in the Cheshire town.

The council later said the loss of HS2 had weakened the business case for the project and made it unlikely it would secure the funding needed to go ahead in its original form.

The authority subsequently held what it described as constructive discussions with the DfT and began developing a more affordable alternative.

But the authority has now been told the proposals will no longer receive government backing through the major road network programme.

Cabinet member for transport and highways Mark Goldsmith said the decision was a major setback for Crewe and appeared to conflict with calls for councils to drive economic growth.

"It is a deeply disappointing decision for Crewe and for everyone who has worked hard alongside the council to develop a practical and affordable alternative scheme for the A500," he said.

The council said it would now assess the financial implications of the decision and consider whether any elements of the project could still be delivered.

Connor Naismith, the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, said the news was "clearly disappointing".

"I have asked that the roads minister and officials engage with Cheshire East Council at the earliest opportunity to discuss management of the short-term impact of this announcement, and how we can deliver this scheme and the associated benefits for constituents and businesses in the longer term," he said.

A DfT spokesperson said the previous government had not funded the scheme and ministers were forced to make difficult choices because of the financial situation they inherited.

The spokesperson said the government was instead investing more than £1bn in 16 major road projects across England, alongside £7.3bn for local road repairs and pothole maintenance.

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