POLICE have confirmed they are looking into a historic land transaction in Crewe involving Cheshire East Council.

Kath O’Dwyer, acting chief executive at CEC, announced that the council had handed the matter over to Cheshire Police on Tuesday.

The council has made no further comment, but police have now confirmed that the fresh issue is in relation to a land transaction in Crewe.

A spokesman at Cheshire Police said: “We can confirm that a further referral has been received from Cheshire East Council in respect of concerns over a historical land transaction in Crewe.

“The matter will be reviewed in due course.”

Cheshire Police had already been looking into six matters that were referred to it by CEC.

They relate to a variety of allegations – including the awarding of contracts, manipulation of air quality data, a land purchase agreement in Middlewich, and grant funding to improve car parking arrangements at a primary school in Wistaston.

Two matters were passed onto police by CEC in March – including one concerning the land transfer on the Ansa environmental hub, in Middlewich – and these are still being reviewed by police.

Cheshire Police added: “The investigation is being led by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Titan, reporting to Cheshire Constabulary.

“The investigation has so far proved to be extremely lengthy and complex, and it is anticipated it will be many more months before a conclusion is reached.”

In a statement issued yesterday, Ms O’Dwyer said: “As a result of a targeted, forensic audit of historical land transactions, I can confirm that we have now referred a further matter to Cheshire police who will consider whether or not there are grounds to investigate.

“It would not be appropriate for me to expand on this further and, therefore, there will be no further comment from the council at this time.”

Police also handed a file over to the Crown Prosecution Service in June following an investigation into the awarding of CEC contracts to Core Fit, a company run by former council leader Michael Jones’ physiotherapist Amanda Morris.