Cheshire East Council Highways Director Departs for East Midlands Role Amid Ongoing Road Issues

Cheshire East Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Highways, Tom Moody, is leaving his role to take up a new position as Director of Transport at the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

Mr Moody, who joined Cheshire East Council in 2022, reported to the Executive Director of Place, a role that has also been vacant since early December following the departure of Phil Creswell. The council’s Chief Executive, Rob Polkinghorne, has also been absent due to illness, marking a period of senior leadership instability.

Peter Skates, Director of Growth and Enterprise, paid tribute to Mr Moody’s contributions:

“We thank Tom for his valuable contribution since he joined the council, which includes his leadership on the local transport plan – a key strategic document for the authority – and securing Department for Transport funding for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass. We congratulate Tom on his new role and are confident he will be equally successful at EMCCA. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

Ongoing Road Challenges

Mr Moody’s departure comes amid growing criticism of Cheshire East Council’s highways management. Key projects have faced significant delays, including the A51 Reaseheath Bypass, originally scheduled to open in 2022, and the A530 Baddington Bridge dispute, which has resulted in restrictions on heavy goods vehicles.

Other controversies include the A500 Shavington Bypass surface dressing, which led to multiple claims from drivers reporting vehicle damage. The council subsequently had to carry out a second surface dressing and reinstate yellow bump strips on roundabout approaches after complaints that the original strips were too high.

The council’s highways department has also faced criticism this month for its gritting strategy during recent snow and icy conditions, adding to concerns over road safety and maintenance standards.

As Cheshire East Council navigates senior staff changes and ongoing infrastructure challenges, attention is likely to remain on the delivery of critical road improvements and the authority’s ability to manage day-to-day network safety and reliability.