Council chiefs are facing a £800,000 bill to make safe a historic footpath in the town centre.
Step Hill, which runs between Churchside to Waters Green, has been closed since 2009 after safety concerns regarding the retaining wall.
Since then the safety of the walls has been further undermined due to the invasive, fast growing plant Japanese Knotweed.
Cheshire East Council has been told it could cost around £800,000 to reopen the footpath.
But officers are working on finding a cheaper solution and hope to get it fixed by the summer.
Coun David Topping, cabinet member in charge of the environment, said: “We are very aware of the issues surrounding the Festival Hill steps and surrounding wall.
“What began as a problem with one section of wall has subsequently been identified as affecting a number of walls, and the problem is bigger than originally thought.
“Estimates received to repair it have been reasonably high but we hope that a suitable remedial scheme can be developed for early 2014 with completion in the summer.
“The only possible issue might be Japanese Knotweed, which is prevalent on the site.
“Treatment of this pernicious weed is currently being addressed.
“However, effective treatment can take several years, so some works may have to be delayed until this treatment is complete.
“In the meantime, a section of the footpath has been deemed safe to walk along and this is the part that provides access to Churchside.”
Alan Lord, of East Cheshire Ramblers, is charged with monitoring footpath closure.
He said he hoped the path, which is also known as footpath 53, would be reopened soon.
He said: “Although some initial work appears to have been done placing wooden supports against the stonework, it is obvious from the massive growth of weeds that nothing has happened on this site for considerable time, and consequently the cost of any further operations must now also include a bill for weed clearance.”
