Local Committee express support for Workington Southern Highway Scheme

Today, Cumbria County Council's Local Committee for Allerdale were asked for their views on the current process for choosing the likely candidate major capital highways scheme for inclusion in the next Local Transport Plan bid to Government. 

Alongside this local West Cumbria proposal are the Kendal Northern scheme, and the Dutton Estuary crossing proposal. The Committee recognised the importance of a robust selection and justification process to determine the County Council's preferred scheme, for its bid to government next summer. Local Members described the significant and growing level of local opinion about the need for major highways investment to link the A595, the Lillyhall industrial estates and development land with the traditional industrial areas and brownfield development land in Workington. 

County Councillor Barbara Cannon, Chair of the Local Committee says, 

"This significant highways capital investment proposal is crucial to the well-being of West Cumbria. Workington is a key economic driver for the area. Well serviced development land in the heart of Workington's industrial/economy zone needs to be adequately linked to the expanding Lillyhall development area and to the area's trunk road network. There is too much congestion spilling around local residential areas. Residents living in Harrington, Salterbeck and Moss Bay are keen to see a solution to the problem of road congestion that blights the area. Equally residential areas along the route of the A596 and the A66 from Stainburn School leading into the Town Centre would benefit from a by pass of the town. This is a problem for both local residents and the heavy goods haulage industry. An HGV ban on the A597 would simply displace vehicles onto other roads and should be resisted as an alternative solution to a Southern Link. 

Workington and area has suffered from a decline in traditional manufacturing and needs new industries and jobs to replace the large numbers of jobs lost in recent years. An integrated transport infrastructure is key to our future economy. This kind of major investment would significantly complement the other inward investment that is being secured to transform the Workington Town centre areas. The evidence is already there to make a compelling justification, and there is already a public campaign building."