Decision details

For a number of years, Cheshire East Council, Holmes Chapel Parish Council and Cranage Parish Council have been discussing means to improve access between the two communities.  A possible off-road route via the Cranage playing fields, over the River Dane, and then on to Holmes Chapel via the Dane Meadow public open space has now been identified.

The Council has powers to create new public rights of way.  Due to the number of separate landholdings within the proposed route there are a number of different legal processes, however, which need to be completed, some of which may be against the wishes of the landowner and therefore open the Council to adverse publicity and to the payment of compensation to those with an interest in the land.

At present the financial implications cannot be calculated exactly although adequate estimates have been included in the costings with regard to compensation and for the construction of the bridge.

In response to the concern of the Portfolio Holder regarding the estimated costs of the bridge in particular, and on the need for grant additional grant assistance which could not at present be guaranteed, the decision to be made was amended and agreed as now set out above.

That the proposal be supported in principle but that further work be carried out to identify funding sources for the construction of the bridge, and to produce a detailed cost benefit analysis to inform the business case being developed.