DELAYS to an announcement on whether the council will secure the cash to build the Western Link have been blamed on the Government being ‘paralysed’ by Brexit.

A decision is yet to be made on whether the Government will pay for the majority of the proposed bypass – more than 13 months after the authority submitted its outline business case to the Department for Transport.

In total, £142.54 million has been requested, with the council planning to contribute £70.2 million.

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The highway, which is being tipped to tackle to town’s congestion misery, would connect the A56 Chester Road with the A57 Sankey Way in Great Sankey.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden issued an update on the matter during his first leader’s forum session at Whitecross Community Centre on Tuesday.

He labelled the current situation as challenging.

“When I speak about the £200 million plus, the reason that is important is because the council and developers can’t put together that sum of money to deliver it,” he said.

“What we are absolutely reliant on is central Government providing that money.

“The council has made what is called a majors funding bid.

“They have had that application from the council for some time now.

“I think, normally, you would think it was struggling in terms of that bid and the viability.

“I think we have got to recognise, though, that the Government is completely paralysed by Brexit so nothing else is happening at the moment.

“That bid is still live – at some point the Government is going to have to make a decision.”

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Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) also confirmed transport chiefs would most likely scrap the entire proposal if the bid is rejected.

“There isn’t really a plan B around the Western Link,” he added.

“If we don’t get the funding then it isn’t going to happen.

“The Western Link will obviously be in the Local Transport Plan.

“Our feedback from the Government has been positive around the bid.

“In the past I would have thought this delay means that it is not going to happen but until we get an answer I don’t know.”

But the Department for Transport has reacted angrily following the comments from Cllr Bowden.

A spokesman said: “This story is nonsense with no basis in fact.

“Any announcement on this scheme will be made in due course.”