Highways chiefs have outlined a strategy to end the ‘cycle of decline’ of the town’s defective road network.

A total of 73km of Macclesfield’s roads - plus a 19km in Poynton and 17km in Wilmslow – are in need of repair, according to a Cheshire East council report.

The Asset Investment Programme document, released to the Express, outlines its plans to repair the network over the next two years – prioritising the roads that are in the worst condition.

Altogether, it concludes that 400km of roads managed by CEC are in need of repair.

The roads with the worst surfaces and potholes in need of urgent work include: Marton Lane in Gawsworth; Birtles Lane South in Henbury; School Lane and Mill Lane in Marton; Buxton Road in North Rode; Bull Gate Lane in Bosley; Buxton Road at Wildboarclough and Buxton Road at Wincle. Other roads on the radar include: Knight Street, Hathaway Drive, Masons Lane and Dunster Road in Macclesfield, and Chancery Lane and Fairfield Avenue in Bollington.

In Wilmslow, the roads with the worst surfaces and potholes include: Chapel Road, Alderley Edge; and Knutsford Road and Dean Row Road in Wilmslow.

Other roads on the radar include: Chorley Hall Lane, Blackshaw Lane, Talbot Road, Heyes Lane and Mottram Road in Alderley Edge; and Moor Lane, Twinnies Road, Broadway, Bourne Street, Mill Road, Moor Lane, Chapel Road, Cedarway, Sylvan Avenue, Beech Grove, Prescott Road, Lacey Avenue, Alderdale Grove, Stanneylands Close and Davehall Avenue in Wilmslow.

The council says it has invested £25m in repairs and resurfacing works.

By March next year, CEC aims to complete 52 schemes in Macclesfield, totalling 13.14km.

Cheshire East’s highway network covers 2,671km.

Of the 400km classed as defective, 18 per cent can be found in Macclesfield, the second highest figure behind Congleton (23pc).

Coun David Topping, cabinet member in charge of the environment, said: “Successive bad winters have left our roads in a bad way and Cheshire East council is working extremely hard to keep the network in a safe condition.

“With road conditions deteriorating and new potholes forming rapidly, the council is experiencing a backlog of defects so we must prioritise repairs. This means busy commuter routes will be treated before, say, residential cul-de-sacs which have less traffic.

"We are expecting to have addressed more than 50,000 potholes by the end of summer and resolve a significant number of defects that have formed in residential areas that can’t be treated during the winter months.

“A total of £25m is being spent on local roads over the next two years which will make a significant difference for local people and drivers.”