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This week, Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Allerdale looked at the Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Project, Cumbria’s next major transport scheme, and how it will effect strategic highways routes into Allerdale from the North.

The project will include the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the new CNDR between the A595 at Newby West and M6 Junction 44 at Greymoorhill.  The contract will also include the operation and maintenance of a number of other key roads in North and West Cumbria for a 30 year period, including the A595 Carlisle to Cockermouth, A596 Thursby to Lillyhall and the A7 Carlisle to Scottish Border roads.  The project aims to greatly improve road links between West Cumbria, Scotland and the North East.

County Councillor Barbara Cannon, Chair of the Local Committee says

“Improving the road links to West Cumbria has always been a priority for this Local Committee and this new project aims to do just that.  However Local Committee is a little concerned about the actual mechanics of the PFI project, especially the long term maintenance standards for those roads in West Cumbria that are included in the project. The County Council needs to make sure that the maintenance to be provided by the private company will be to a better quality standard than Cumbria County Council can achieve with current financial constraints. Local Committee will be seeking assurances from the County Council Portfolio holder for Transport that this will be the case. Improving the links to West Cumbria and opening up the area is very important, but in order to do that, the road network needs to be the very best it can be.”