Ambulances taking emergency patients to Leighton Hospital are losing vital minutes - forced to make a 3.3 mile detour caused by a Crewe road closure.

A Crewe Nub News reader has today (May 20), seen an ambulance having to turn around at the A530 Middlewich Road junction with Pyms Lane due to its closure up to the junction with Smithy Lane, Crewe.

This road closed from May 9 and is expected to be fully closed until March 2023 as part of the NWCP works.

The 3.3 mile diversion route for emergency services and Crewe residents travelling to Leighton Hospital (Google Maps).

The ambulance has then had to make a 3.3 mile detour across Crewe, driving down the A530 Middlewich Road to Woolstanwood roundabout, driving over a mile across West Street, driving a further mile up Minshull New Road then turning left on to Smithy Lane and turning right into Leighton hospital.

Earlier this week, Cheshire East Council said that all ambulance drivers and emergency services had been informed about the Crewe road closure and diversion routes.

A council spokesperson said: "We have been working closely with the Hospital Trust to ensure that they are fully aware of the access routes to the hospital which are being maintained at all times.

"Both Pym's Lane and Sunnybank Road have been closed to public access for some considerable time now and do not feature on the official diversion route.

The A530 Middlewich Road closure at the junction with Pyms Lane (Crewe Nub News reader).

"The closure of these road was the subject of a separate application made by Bentley Motors and granted by the Secretary of State.

"Emergency services have all been informed of the (A530 Middlewich Road) closure. The Hospital has been provided with the official diversion route.

"The traffic management team are constantly look to see if there are any gaps in the information and will adjust the signage to suit."

Today's incident comes after a Crewe Nub News reader sent in an image of an ambulance having to turn around to get to Leighton Hospital with a patient in the back, close to Pyms Lane, on Friday (May 13).

An ambulance having to turn around last week (May 13), with a patient in the back - close to Pyms Lane (Crewe Nub News).

Some emergency vehicles are still trying to use Sunnybank Road as a cut through to Minshull New Road - land now owned and blocked off by Bentley Motors.

Today's incident highlights that a number of emergency vehicle drivers are still not aware of the Crewe Road closure - potentially costing and risking lives.

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