CUMBRIAN MPs have welcomed another multimillion-pound Government funding boost for the country’s road network announced today [Monday 26th February].
Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils are set to receive a combined total of £276m – on top of the £287m already reallocated from the HS2 project to road maintenance last week, the funding to upgrade the Cumbrian Coast Railway Line announced by the Prime Minister at Conservative Party Conference, and the additional bus service improvement funding announced in October.
This latest infrastructure investment – again delivered with funds diverted from HS2 – will see £147m awarded to Cumberland, and £129m for the Westmorland and Furness over the next seven years.
Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow and Furness, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, Carlisle MP John Stevenson, Workington MP Mark Jenkinson and Penrith and the Border MP Dr Neil Hudson, have all been lobbying for improvements to the road network.
Although the money has been allocated by the Government, the delivery of these infrastructure projects would fall to the local authorities.
Therefore, all five MPs have written to the chief executives of both of Cumbria’s unitary authorities – Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Council to issue a call to action on several major shovel read schemes, including to
- re-trunk the A689 and plan upgrading the road whilst de-trunking the Warwick Bridge section of the A69;
- immediately commence work on the delayed Grizebeck bypass;
- programme with Highways England the planned safety and resilience upgrades to the strategic A590 corridor;
- immediately commence work on the Bothel strategic improvement project;
- commence the Broughton and Brigham junction improvements alongside National Highways, and
- design and schedule improvements to Duddon Bridge
Simon Fell MP said: “This is a game-changing sum of money – almost £300million in transport funding being available to Cumbria for investment in our local road infrastructure over a seven-year period with the cancellation of HS2.
We now have to seize the opportunity that this brings to deliver the improvements that we desperately need.
“This funding gives Westmorland and Furness the opportunity to immediately get the stalled Grizebeck bypass moving, improve Duddon Bridge, streamline and make safer the A590 down to the M6, and work with Cumberland on the improvements that the A595 desperately needs.
“I look forward to working with the Councils, and fellow MPs, to deliver on our residents’ priorities and to get Cumbria moving.”
This latest tranche of funding is designed to improve road links between towns and cities, and to improve journeys for residents.
The suggested works would be particularly beneficial in improving transport links between Barrow and the north and west of the county.
The investment would help grow the Cumbrian economy, improve journey times dramatically, help make our roads safer, as well as making services and amenities more accessible.
Mark Jenkinson MP added: “This is excellent news for or all our Cumbrian constituents. My constituents know how hard I have been fighting for junction improvements at Broughton and Brigham – and I will be asking Cumberland Council to allocate some of this massive funding boost towards this project.
“We also have several shovel-ready schemes, including Bothel Improvements on the A595, which would benefit from a cash injection. This investment is just what is needed to get these projects off the ground.
“In broader terms, this tranche of funding could be used to improve connectivity on the A595. This would support the nuclear supply chain across Cumbria and the wider economy, creating and sustaining jobs, and making it easier for residents and commuters alike.
The two unitary authorities are in a very strong position to hit the ground running with this, and if they need our support, they can be assured of it.”
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison has set out what she sees as the funding priorities for Cumberland.
She said: “In addition to the junction improvements put forward by Cumberland Highways Authority, many for safety reasons, securing the resilience of the A595 cannot be understated.
“The priority therefore must be on the bridges; Calder, Holmrook, Muncaster and the Duddon to ensure we have an A road open 24/7 whatever the weather and also the Grizebeck bypass. That unmarked, narrow road through a farmyard is not fit for purpose today, and has not been suitable for many decades. There is now a plan which must be fully funded and completed.”
Carlisle MP John Stevenson said: “This investment is a further opportunity for Carlisle and the Cumberland area to grow and develop. It also demonstrates confidence in the area. Investing in the road system will bring significant benefits to my constituents. It will improve connectivity, communication and if we get the re trunking of the A689 and de trunking of the A69 right it will improve the lives of people in the east of the city. The improvements to the A595 will also help improve the links between Carlisle and the west bringing huge benefits to the whole area.”
