INDEPENDENT consultants were in Middlewich last week helping prepare for the plans for a swimming pool in the town.

Crewe-based Robert West carried out a traffic impact survey and will report its findings to Congleton Borough Council in the next few weeks.

Jokaro Ltd unveiled bold plans for the town last July including 85 new homes, a supermarket and leisure centre to transform 5.6 acres of waste land off Centurion Way.

The leisure centre will include a swimming pool which campaigners have been asking for 30 years.

Managing director of Jokaro, Nigel West, said: "Things are moving along, but quite slowly.

"We are working hard with the council's leisure services and liaising with the planning department to make this development viable."

Town and borough councillors have given a cautious welcome to the proposals which are set to be on the agenda of a planning committee meeting in January.