A footbridge project that consumed 13 years of planning has been scrapped, sparking fury among local leaders. Cheshire East's deputy mayor has blasted the decision, expressing total disbelief at the cancellation. The official claims taxpayers' money has been wasted in the long-running saga.

The failed scheme represents another crushing disappointment for residents across the Stoke region who have endured a more than decade-long wait for the crossing to be built. What began as a priority infrastructure project has now been abandoned entirely.

Cheshire East's deputy mayor has not held back criticism over the axed plans. The senior figure branded the outcome as a loss for local taxpayers, highlighting frustration at years of investment yielding no physical results for the community in Stoke and surrounding areas.

The footbridge cancellation marks a significant setback for infrastructure development in the region. Residents in Stoke who anticipated the crossing would improve local connectivity and safety are now left without answers about what happens next.

The decision leaves major questions hanging over the future of local projects. For people in Stoke who campaigned for the footbridge, the 13-year wait has ended not with construction, but with disappointment and demands for accountability over how public funds were managed.