Cllr Michael Jones, standing down as Conservative leader of Cheshire East Council
One of the biggest issues facing our area in the next few years is how we will cope with the additional traffic from the 4,000+ homes that Cheshire East Council plan to build near the Stockport border – many of them around Handforth Dean. We have been asking Cheshire East to work with us and find ways to stop the extra traffic bringing our roads to a halt, but for more than two years little has happened.
Now the Conservative Leader of Cheshire East Council, Michael Jones, has said he will be standing down amid a police investigation into the awarding of contracts. As the BBC reports:
A criminal investigation has been launched after a council leader resigned over criticism concerning his links with a fitness firm owner.
Cheshire East Council waived its rules when it granted three contracts to Core Fit Ltd, owned by the physiotherapist of former council leader Michael Jones.
A police investigation into misconduct in a public office is under way.
Mr Jones denied any wrongdoing when he stood down on 8 December. He was unavailable for comment.
Core Fit Ltd, which is owned by Amanda Morris, runs fitness classes in schools and was given contracts collectively worth £156,000 by the council.
We do not think that the change of leader in Cheshire East will lead to any significant changes to their proposals, but we will be continuing to look for every opportunity to work with Cheshire East to avoid transport chaos.
