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22/10/2004 - New transport report backs county

Cumbria County Council’s campaign to attract investment in the county’s transport infrastructure has been bolstered by an independent report.

The Access to Furness and West Cumbria study, jointly commissioned by the North West Development Agency and the North West Regional Assembly, makes recommendations for the long-term strategy for transport infrastructure in the area until 2021.

The report has been produced by independent transport consultants Mouchel Parkman and provides an external snapshot of local opinions, transport problems and issues and possible solutions.

The proposals, which take into account constraints such as affordability, deliverability and environmental impact, are designed to make the best of existing transport infrastructure and suggest possible new developments to improve transport links in order to allow businesses and communities to flourish and to attract jobs and investment to the county and particularly to the West.

Cumbria County Council broadly backed the conclusions of the report at a cabinet meeting in Kendal this week and has also sent additional comments on its aspirations for the area to the NWDA. 

If it is adopted by the NWDA and NWRA the study’s recommendations for transport measures and policy options could help inform the Regional Transport Strategy.

Its recommendations include:

  • Highways improvements such as climbing lanes and pull-ins on the A590, A595 and the A66.
  • Improvements to the A590 through Ulverston.
  • Improvements to overtaking provision on the A595 Workington to Carlisle.
  • Helicopter terminals throughout the county.
  • Commercial flights from Carlisle Airport or Walney Airfield.
  • Increased rail freight capacity.
  • Improvement and integration of bus and train timetables.
  • Progress of the South Carlisle Environmental Route.

Kevan Wilkinson, cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: "We have been telling Government for a long time that Cumbria, and particularly the West Coast, needs serious investment in its transport infrastructure if the county is to flourish. This report by independent consultants backs up what we have been saying and hopefully it will help us to get Cumbria's transport needs to the top of the agenda at a regional and national level."

An executive summary of the report can be seen attached to cabinet agenda papers for 19 October at www.cumbria.gov.uk