Credit: Google Street ViewA schoolboy cyclist has died after being hit by a car Police say the 11-year-old suffered serious injuries and died at the scene of the crash in Cheshire The crash involved a black Fiesta ST and a pedal cyclist. Cheshire Police say the "occupants of the Fiesta have been arrested" and the young cyclist's family are being supported by specialist officers Sergeant Simon Degg said: “This is an incredibly sad incident in which a young boy has lost his life Our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this difficult time “We would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident and hasn’t already spoken to police to get in touch with us "The same goes for anyone who may have any footage Want more on the issues affecting the North From the North answers the questions that matter to our region vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee the environment and communities committee made a number of decisions relating to how the council’s available budget to support leisure services can be targeted to where it will have the biggest impact while ensuring leisure services can become more financially sustainable “These decisions were made in the context of the council’s medium-term financial strategy and the need to secure savings in leisure services of £1.3m in 2024/25 “While the council receives no permanent income stream from leisure services it is responsible for paying building maintenance and utilities costs – which are rising drastically – and it also invests in leisure services through the payment of an annual management fee “As part of the decisions made last year it was agreed that the council’s interest in leisure centres in Middlewich and Holmes Chapel would be withdrawn which means the facilities are handed back to the schools and they are then free to explore alternative ways of operating them it was recently confirmed that Middlewich Leisure Centre will close in its current form on 31 May  “We are aware of the concern surrounding this decision Everybody Health & Leisure will be contacting their members with information about accessing their other leisure centres across the borough “The facilities at Middlewich will continue to be used by Middlewich High School students for curricular and extracurricular activities.” Cheshire East Council is committed to equality and diversity © Cheshire East Council Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Cheshire East Council has been looking to build the bypass since 2017 Cheshire East Council is hopeful the Department for Transport will confirm a £47m grant towards the £98m scheme’s overall cost which would allow work to start this summer The release of grant funding would enable the council to enter a construction contract with Balfour Beatty to build the Middlewich Eastern Bypass The council’s highways and transport committee will meet next week to approve the contract subject to a positive funding decision from the government Cheshire East Council has stated that the current development programme “depends on a timely decision” by the Department for Transport Any hesitation could push the start of the build to autumn 2025 which would increase costs due to complications with earthworks at that time of year The aim of the bypass is to reduce congestion in Middlewich and improve journey times on the wider highway network The two-way single-carriageway road would ease traffic at the A54 and A533 junctions and include the construction of two roundabouts off Pochin Way and Booth Lane the other above the Sandbach to Northwich railway line The council has spent £27m to date on land assembly Cheshire East Council’s ambition is to receive business case approval from the government by the end of February Councillors want the bypass to be ready for use by autumn 2027 vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee said: “The Middlewich Eastern Bypass is a critical project for the council supporting the delivery of 1,950 new homes and the creation of a much-needed 6,500 local jobs.” Cllr Crane said the project was “shovel-ready” She added: “We have already invested considerable money in preparing for the delivery of this scheme and any further delay will have major financial implications as the government contribution to this project is a fixed amount “That is why [the] committee will be considering steps that we can take now – ahead of what we hope will be a positive funding decision from the government – so that we can hit the ground running once that decision arrives and ensure costs do not rise further.” In January local businesses in Middlewich wrote to the government expressing “collective support” for the scheme The letter indicated that local business offers “overwhelming support for the scheme” and consider it “fundamental” to future economic growth The letter said: “This project represents a critical infrastructure improvement for the town which has long suffered from severe traffic congestion and a lack of modern transport solutions to sustain Middlewich’s growing economy a reliable and efficient highway network is key to our operations and helps facilitate smoother trade and commerce.” Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" In a climate emergency there is no question to which more roadspace is a legitimate answer If only they put the same amount of effort for reopening the Middlewich Branch Line – given the railway line exists and is used by freight Would be useful to connect Mid Cheshire to Crewe and beyond All that will happen is that developers will fill the gaps in with more sheds and houses The bypass will never get off the ground because we are a small town that no council wants east or West they build houses but they isn’t enough shops unless it’s a takeaway or hairdressers no new schools plus come Sundays if you haven’t got a car you can’t go out off town because they isn’t any busses or taxis once you’re all driving my emissions free car more by-passes and road space will help relieve congestion And don’t worry about re-opening that closed railway I’d like to see more investment in active travel and public transport rather than more roads which isn’t a good use of public funds have these Cllrs not heard of induced demand… Anyone who has watched traffic going through Middlewich will see that the majority goes straight through the lights and not left for Sandbach The bypass should be the other side of town to make a difference to traffic flow For the last 100 years we’ve known about the effects of Induced Demand and how building more road space only leads to more congestion I suppose we can’t rely on Highways Engineers and politicians (especially local councillors) to learn anything from a book though can we Cheshire East Council’s Full Business Case says the project has a benefit cost ratio of 1.18 which the DfT categorises as ‘low’ value for money If costs increase further the benefits of the project may end up being less than the cost this money can be far better spent on other modes I thought Cheshire East council already had the funds in place According to the very large sign on Booth lane work was due to start in spring 2022 Just cannot cope and the traffic should be flowed towards Winsford NOT Sandbach which is gridlocked already and a nightmare for most but how will it impact regeneration and development in the area Find out at Place North West’s half-day conference in June The developer is seeking outline consent for a residential scheme on the 13.5-acre site at Clive Hall Farm in Winsford Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Businesses in the Middlewich area have written to the Government expressing their ‘collective support’ for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme and say their growth plans depend on it being delivered Cheshire East Council resubmitted its final business case to Government for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme in September last year and is seeking final approval for grant funding from the Department for Transport GO Outdoors Retail Limited and Blacks Outdoor Retail Limited and Tritax Big Box Developments have written to Lilian Greenwood MP calling for the scheme to be considered ‘as an urgent priority’ and for the investment needed for this project to be delivered they said: “As businesses located in Middlewich we are writing to express our collective support for this scheme “The Middlewich Eastern Bypass has overwhelming local support and has long been campaigned for by residents and businesses like us That is because it is fundamental to the long-term economic growth of Middlewich “This project represents a critical infrastructure improvement for the town and a lack of modern transport solutions to sustain Middlewich’s growing community a reliable and efficient highway network is key to our operations and helps facilitate smoother trade and commerce This scheme is an opportunity to ensure the town remains a vital hub for employment and economic activity in the region and that it can continue to attract investment.” The letter adds: “Without the Middlewich Eastern Bypass the quality of life of residents will continue to be impacted and businesses will continue to be deterred away from the area.  “The scheme will provide the key to unlocking the constraints that shackle future growth and prosperity in Middlewich and the wider region.” The business case for the scheme was reviewed by the Department for Transport’s Investment Committee in November which will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport The council’s ambition is to receive full business case approval from Government early this year so that work can start on site in spring and the bypass can be open by autumn 2027 The highways and transport committee will consider a report later this month on the next steps to take to ensure work can begin as soon as possible if a positive funding decision is received chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee said: “The significant benefits of this scheme to businesses like those that have written to the Government are clear and will extend well beyond the town itself it will improve connectivity to major employment sites and enhance the region’s attractiveness for further development – our plan is to unlock up to 1,950 new homes and employment land and potentially create up to 6,500 jobs in the local area “The bypass is ‘shovel ready’ all planning permissions and statutory orders confirmed “As local businesses have also called for we strongly urge the Government to consider this scheme as an urgent priority and provide the investment needed for this project.” Cheshire East Council has resubmitted its final business case to Government for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme The council is seeking final approval for grant funding from the Department for Transport to help deliver a 1.6-mile bypass.  said: “We know there is strong support from local people for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass and that they have long campaigned for this scheme to be delivered we submitted a robust business case to Government that clearly demonstrates why the bypass is fundamental to our growth ambitions for Middlewich and why its significant benefits will extend well beyond the town itself “We have worked very closely with government officials on this new road since 2017 At each stage we have responded to all of the requirements and have a very investable scheme with a positive business case so we expect the Government to now fund this scheme’s construction “This bypass will relieve severe traffic congestion at the junction of two major roads which for many years has impacted residents’ quality of life and deterred businesses away from the area.  “It will reduce air pollution and noise levels in residential areas by diverting traffic away – particularly lorries – and also help to improve the reliability of bus services.  it will improve connectivity to major employment sites and enhance the region’s attractiveness for further development – unlocking up to 1,950 new homes and employment land and potentially creating up to 6,500 jobs in the local area “It will also improve the infrastructure of the wider Mid Cheshire towns and improve access to major transport links The bypass will be a new two-way single carriageway road that will connect a new roundabout junction off Pochin Way in the north of the town to a new roundabout junction to the south The plans also include a new bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal a new bridge over the Sandbach-to-Northwich railway line which supports the council’s continued commitment to encourage active travel and greener transport Now the council has submitted its final business case for the bypass it needs to be reviewed by the Department for Transport’s Investment Committee which is expected to take place in November The committee will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport who will then make a final decision on whether the scheme will receive Government funding Cllr Goldsmith added: “In submitting our business case for this scheme we have addressed recent feedback from the Department for Transport and further strengthened the scheme’s economic case which had been impacted by the exceptionally high inflation pressures since the Covid-19 pandemic “Delaying this scheme further will have major financial implications for the council and to ensure that it remains achievable our ambition is to receive full business case approval from Government later this year so that we could start on site in spring 2025 and the bypass can be open by autumn 2027.” Cheshire East councillors are to consider the next steps needed to enable construction of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass to start as soon as possible – if a positive funding decision from Government arrives.  Cheshire East Council resubmitted its final business case to Government for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme in September last year and is seeking final approval for grant funding from the Department for Transport.  The council’s ambition is to receive full business case approval from Government by the end of February so that work can start on site in the summer and the bypass can be open by autumn 2027.  the council’s highways and transport committee will consider a report that seeks approval for a number of recommendations that would allow work on the scheme to start on site as quickly as possible should Government approval be given.   vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee said: “The Middlewich Eastern Bypass is a critical project for the council supporting the delivery of 1,950 new homes and the creation of an estimated much needed “This is a ‘shovel ready’ project “We have already invested considerable money in preparing for the delivery of this scheme and any further delay will have major financial implications as the Government contribution to this project is a fixed amount.   “That is why committee will be considering steps that we can take now – ahead of what we hope will be a positive funding decision from Government – so that we can hit the ground running once that decision arrives and ensure costs do not rise further.”  View the full report to the highways and transport committee.  connecting with the A533 Booth Lane.  The plans also include a new bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal which supports the council’s continued commitment to encourage active travel and greener transport.  Recently and Tritax Big Box Developments wrote to Lilian Greenwood MP calling for the scheme to be considered ‘as an urgent priority’ and for the investment needed for this project to be delivered.  they said the bypass ‘has overwhelming local support and has long been campaigned for by residents and businesses like us’.   “That is because it is fundamental to the long-term economic growth of Middlewich and to the wider Cheshire East and region,” they added.  Read more about the letter to the Minister. Landlord Warehouse REIT has agreed terms with the logistics provider for a 10-year renewal on its 375,000 sq ft unit at Midpoint 18 Wincanton will pay a new headline rent of £6.50/sq ft rising to a minimum of £7/sq ft at the end of the fifth year The new rent represents an uplift of 28.8% against the previous passing rent and secures £2.4m of contracted rent for Warehouse REIT The lease includes an occupier break in years three and five: £500,000 of reversion is captured through this lease renewal bringing total reversion captured in the financial year to date to £2.2m The transaction extends the portfolio WAULT to expiry from 4.7 years as at September 2024 to 5.1 years on a pro forma basis Totalling 725,000 sq ft with good access to the M6 Midpoint 18 is the largest asset in Warehouse REIT’s portfolio said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with Wincanton to satisfy their occupational requirements with this re-commitment to Midpoint 18 being a strong endorsement of the quality of the space as well as its strategic location close to the M6 and proximity to key local sources of labour.” Warehouse REIT was set up as a spin-off business from Tilstone several years ago Makin continued: “With the supply of both existing and new multi-let warehousing in the UK continuing to be very tight and occupational markets remaining resilient across a broad range of sectors is well placed to capitalise on these attractive market fundamentals.” The Liverpool-based property consultancy has acquired Adams Estate Agents after it successfully presided over the managing director’s house move The Chester and North Wales-based consultancy firm has made three additions headed by incoming director of ecology Lyn Pearce police were called to reports of a collision in Booth Lane The collision involved a black Fiesta ST and a pedal cyclist His family are currently being supported by specialist officers Enquiries remain ongoing and as part of the investigation the occupants of the Fiesta have been arrested in relation to the incident of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit “This is an incredibly sad incident in which a young boy has lost his life “We would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident and hasn’t already spoken to police to get in touch with us “The same goes for anyone who may have any footage Anyone with any information can contact Cheshire Police via:  www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us