Cheshire East highways bosses have been slammed after releasing plans for treating major A roads – including two which don’t exist!
The authority unveiled this week a programme of highways and transport improvements set to take place across the borough in 2026-27 as part of a £45 million investment.
However, two of the major A roads identified in their statement have incorrect locations, causing confusion and prompting criticism.
Among the “complete programme of treatment works on several major A-roads” they highlighted the A534 Wrexham Road in Wrenbury and the A500 Newcastle Road in Haslington.
But neither of these roads exist.
The A534 Wrexham Road runs through Burland, Faddiley and Ridley – some five miles north of Wrenbury.
And the A500 Newcastle Road (pictured) connects the M6 with Nantwich via the Shavington Bypass – several miles south of Haslington.
Cllr Brian Silvester, leader of Crewe First, said: “Labour run Cheshire East really are hopeless!
“Unfortunately the A534 does not go anywhere near Wrenbury and the A500 is in Shavington… not Haslington!
“It does not fill you with any confidence when howlers like this happen. You wouldn’t put it past Cheshire East to end up treating the wrong roads!”
And Rural Record, a social media account covering the Wrenbury area of Cheshire East, tweeted: “Where the heck is the A534 in Wrenbury?
“It doesn’t have any B roads never mind an A road! More evidence of CEC Highways not having a clue about long lost and forgotten South West Cheshire East.”
In the Cheshire East statement, Cllr Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said: “Residents expect safe, reliable roads and this investment will allow us to address our most pressing maintenance needs, while improving the routes people use every day.
“We’re focusing on the areas where the benefits will be felt the most, including supporting local bus services and enhancing walking and cycling links – all to make travel safer, more dependable and more accessible.
“During the winter months, when the weather can be very challenging, it’s harder for us to make permanent repairs to our roads – and our immediate focus is of course on road safety.
“However, the warmer spring and summer months allow for a wider range of techniques to be used for improvement works on our roads, which is the most cost-effective way to enhance driving conditions for the greatest number of road users.”
We have approached Cheshire East for a statement clarifying which roads or sections of roads they are referring to.
They added that the programme is supported by a £10 million local transport grant from central government to the new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.
The council will also benefit from a £5.18m local bus grant.
All annual planned highway schemes for 2026-2027 are viewable on the council’s online interactive mapping system at cheshireeast.gov.uk/roadrepairprogramme
Whenever the name Cllr Mark Goldsmith appears in an article it can only be bad news. The Reaseheath fiasco has been dragging on for four years under his watch, there have been other incidents of incompetence, and now this.
Cheshire East Thunder-Brain Bosses are spending a slice of £45M investment on two A Roads that don’t exist….Good Grief, U couldn’t make it up???
Roll On ‘REFORM’! 🙏
Don’t care what you call them ,just bloody fix them,and properly not just patch