Macclesfield's town centre pavements could be widened to aid social distancing after the council said it would be examined as part of the coronavirus response.

Cheshire East Council confirmed at its cabinet meeting earlier this month that they were looking into several options to ensure residents can be outdoors safely in their towns, as lockdown restrictions start to slowly ease.

The proposals were brought forward by Cllr Suzie Akers Smith, the councils 'walking and cycling champion'.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Cllr Akers Smith stated that emergency measures introduced due to Covid-19 enable the temporary widening of pavements, create temporary cycle lanes, impose 20mph speed limits and other initiatives, which would enable people to be socially distant in places where there is a high mix of pedestrians and vehicles.

Cllr Akers Smith said: "The lockdown has made the roads safer for people to walk and cycle, and bicycle sales have risen by 15% during lockdown."

"To continue that support of residents to walk and cycle could we – where there are a high mix of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles – to enable people to socially distance themselves, temporarily widen pavements, create cycle lanes and reduce speed limits to 20mph?"

The Congleton West Ward councillor asked whether the measures, which will also "benefit the environment" be used as a trial with a view to making permanent changes to towns and villages across the borough to ensure greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

She added: "These changes will make huge progress in becoming carbon neutral by 2025."

Cllr Laura Crane, cabinet member for highways and waste agreed with Cllr Akers Smith.

Cllr Crane said: "It's something we desperately need to be looking at. A lot of people have changed their travel habits now. I cannot remember the last time that I was in an office for a meeting and it has shown what we can do with the technology that is at our fingertips.

"We are already looking into the possibilities, certainly in town centres, of widening pavements to allow social distancing to continue for quite some time."