A LEADING authority has responded to claims there has been a lack of action taken by it over serious road safety concerns in Holmes Chapel.

The Guardian reported two weeks ago how a war of words had broken out between The Holmes Chapel Partnership, Cheshire East Council and Dane Valley ward councillors.

The campaign group said it was 'disappointed' by the lack of road safety action in the village and had put up banners and street signage as part of its 'Safe Walking Routes to School' campaign in an effort to force the council and local ward members to make more progress on the matter.

Ward member Les Gilbert said the group ‘would bring the village to a halt if they had their way’ while Hazel Sutcliffe, Chair of the Holmes Chapel Partnership said she 'sincerely hoped' it wouldn't take the death of a resident for Cheshire East to finally start taking action.

In response to the stand off, a Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the concerns expressed by parents about the walking routes to local schools in Holmes Chapel.

"The council takes the safety of the borough’s children and families very seriously and wishes to see children and parents confident about walking to and from their borough school.

"The council has a number of work programmes running that seek to achieve this.

"The council will continue discussions with local schools in Holmes Chapel around the council’s Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools policy, which could help to address these concerns and offer options on alternative and safer ways for parents and children to reach their school.

"The council is also undertaking a review of its speed management policy, which will pick up issues such as the appropriateness of speed limits.

"Finally, through its overall local transport plan capital investment programme for 2021/2022, the council has identified budgets to improve active travel in the borough and, whenever the opportunity arises, is seeking to attract additional central government funding to benefit pedestrians and cyclists."

The posters and banners in question have been designed by schoolchildren of the village, with seven entries winning out in a competition earlier this year.