Cheshire East council leader Michael Jones has defended its handling of the £90 million Silk Street scheme.

In an Express survey asking residents for their views about the town centre, hundreds of readers said they are unhappy with how the council has handled the development plan.

But the council leader has moved to reassure residents, claiming “I am their saviour” and said he was committed to the future of the scheme.

In total more than 1,000 people took part in the online questionnaire, of which 91 per cent also said Macclesfield’s town centre is suffering or has gone into decline.

The readers poll was prompted by the withdrawal of Debenhams as the ‘anchor’ store for the £90m Silk Street plan.

The announcement that the high-street retailer had backed out prompted the council to ‘review’ its relationship with development partner Wilson Bowden, and could mean the deal is dead in the water.

However the council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the leisure aspect of the scheme – a new cinema and restaurants on the current site of the Churchill Way car park.

Michael Jones, leader of the council, said: “The people need to understand that I am their saviour. We have put £15m in the budget to redevelop Macclesfield and have already committed £1m for the leisure scheme.

“The Silk Street scheme was inherited from Macclesfield Borough Council and it is Wilson Bowden’s plan. Of course people will blame the council as we are dealing with it now, but I would say judge us on our actions not words.”

A total of 32pc of people said ‘urgent action’ is needed to make sure Macclesfield has a town centre to be proud of in the future. Of those that responded, another 40pc said it needs improving.

The majority of readers who responded to our survey said the worst thing about the town was a ‘lack of good shops’.

Now the council has announced that commercial property expert Nick Hynes will lead a key advisory panel to review and drive forward the redevelopment.

Mr Hynes will serve as the delivery executive and chair of the Macclesfield Design Board.

Coun Michael Jones also committed to working with Macclesfield’s new elected town council to draw up a neighbourhood plan, which will set out how the town centre should develop and would carry legal weight in any future planning decisions.

The town’s Labour group also called for a neighbourhood plan to be drawn up.

Coun Jones said: “I am committed to a neighbourhood plan. The Conservatives have introduced 43 across Cheshire East, and I will work with the town council to get one drawn up for Macclesfield.

“Cheshire East Council is happy to work with all the stakeholders in the town to deliver the right way forward for Macclesfield.”