SAFETY checks due to be carried out on Marbury Lane have been delayed - because the county council hasn't worked out how much it is going to cost yet.

The safety inspection agreement was set up on the understanding that a certain amount of funding came from both authorities.

Vale Royal Borough Council sent a letter to the county council on June 15 saying it welcomed the audit but, before making a decision on its exact contribution, would like a costing of the safety audit.

Now preliminary investigations have started on certain parts of the lane to identify areas of work needed to upgrade the road. "We hope these investigations will be complete by the end of this week or early next week so that we can send details of how much it will cost to the borough council," said County Clr David Lloyd-Griffiths.

"It's not a full safety audit. We are just identifying parts of the lane which need to be upgraded in order for the road to reopen," he added.

This latest delay dashes any hopes of an early opening to Marbury Lane, which was closed by Cheshire County Council following the tragic deaths of three men in November.

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