A PROPOSAL to upgrade three Winnington roads at a cost of £2,500 per home owner has raised more questions than it answers according to town councillors.

Residents in the privately owned Solvay Road, Hemming Street and Dyar Terrace have been asked if they would like the potholed highways bringing up to standard and taken on by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

A letter sent to residents from CWAC's highways department, says that the estimated cost for the work is £300,000, which works out at around £2,500 per each of the 130 affected properties.

The roads are currently owned by Solvay Properties, which is responsible for their maintenance and can reclaim costs from home owners.

CWAC can only adopt roads and become responsible for all ongoing repairs once the roads meet a certain standard.

The council said that the £2,500 would not be an upfront cost but would be repaid at the point of sale of the property in future.

But Cllr Paul Dolan, CWAC councillor for Winnington and Castle and a Northwich town councillor, said he was baffled by the letter.

"I find this bizarre given that it's my ward and I wasn't notified about it," he said.

"Northwich Town Council wasn't made aware of it."

He said he had contacted Steve Robinson, chief executive of CWAC, to ask how the £300,000 had been calculated and what the appropriate standard was.

CWAC said the work can only go ahead if the majority of residents agree to it and Cllr Dolan said this could be an issue.

"How can they apply a legal charge to the property if people are not willing?" he said.

"I'm not sure this has been thought through."

Cllr Andrew Cooper was also intrigued by the legal charge on the property, which Cllr Mike Jones told the Guardian would be capped.

He said: "Will this interest-free loan be available to all residents of unadopted roads all over Northwich?

"If this kind of scheme is available, why not everywhere? Why just Solvay Road?

Residents have been sent a questionnaire which they have to return by June 1.