ROADWORKS will be suspended across Chester and Cheshire West again this Christmas.

The council has again arranged a roadworks embargo for around six weeks to keep the festive season running smoothly.

There will be a suspension of all non-essential roadworks in Chester city centre and all major towns and major retail outlet areas across the borough from 11.59pm on Sunday, November 19 until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

The suspension will cover Chester city centre, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich and Winsford town centres.  Only urgent and emergency repairs will be granted permission to work on the road network in these areas.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “At this time of year we of course see a significant increase in both the number of vehicles and pedestrians in and around our major shopping centres, in the run-up to and through the Christmas and New Year periods.

“A roadworks embargo has worked well in previous years and will help visitors and shoppers access the borough’s wonderful shopping and leisure facilities by keeping traffic running smoothly.

“Our Streetworks team may, of course, need to grant permits for work on the road network during these dates if emergency repairs are needed to ensure the supply of vital utility services to homes and businesses.”

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Chester’s Park and Ride is an alternative way of getting into Chester this Christmas and it is celebrating its 40th birthday this month. It costs £2.50 per person with a variety of other ticket options available for groups and young people.

It operates every day with buses running every 10 to 12 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays and bank holidays.  Late night extended hours begin for Christmas shopping on Thursday, November 23, continuing every Thursday until Christmas.  More information and timetables are available on the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s website.

Public transport and other alternative modes of transport like cycling or walking; or traveling at less busy times of the day all help to avoid congestion and limiting the impact to journeys.

The suspension only applies to the borough’s road network, however the Council’s Highways Service is working with the other network operators, including National Highways and Network Rail, to minimise the impact of any proposed works on their own networks, through promoting off-peak and night-time working.

The suspension of roadworks applies to the following areas;

Chester Area
No roadworks to take place within the area of the City Centre bounded by the City Walls and also on the following roads within a 2.5 mile (4km) radius from Chester Cross; A540, A5116, A41, A5480, A548, A56, A5115, A5104 and A483.

Requests to work on all other roads within a one mile (1.6km) radius of Chester Cross will be considered on an individual basis dependant on their nature and traffic impact.

Ellesmere Port Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads, within a 1.5 mile (2.5km) radius of Ellesmere Port Civic Hall; A5032, B5132, Pooltown Road (between A5032 and B5132) and also including A41 (from Backford to M53 Junction 5) and A5117 (from M56 Junction 16 to M56 Junction 14).

Neston Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a 1.5 mile (2.5km) radius of the Cross; A540, B5134, B5135 and B5136.

Northwich Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a two mile (3.2km) radius of the Municipal Building; A556, A533, A559, B5082 and School Lane, Hartford.

Winsford Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a one and a half mile (2.5km) radius of the Municipal Building; A54, A5018, B5074, Bradford Road and Road One.

Frodsham Area

No roadworks to take place on A56 High Street/Main Street between Howey Lane and Fluin Lane also Church Street and Fluin Lane to their junctions with Vicarage Road and A56.