By Safira Ali

Last updated 13:23, Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Improvements to Workington town centre’s roads are expected to be delayed until after Christmas.

Workington town centre traffic

The work, which is expected to cost £630,000, was to start last week.

Cumbria County Council will be carrying out improvements to Murray Road and Finkle Street by creating traffic calming measures and pedestrian crossing points.

Andrew Butler, Highways area engineer, said at a Workington Central Neighbourhood Forum last night: “It is delayed because it is going to formal tender to ensure we get the best value for money. We expect to start in January.”

He said: “We were really keen on getting started early October. Due to a technical hitch it will be late. We won’t disturb the town before Christmas. It will be after the holidays. It’s probably better that way.

“The bus services in Workington would be the envy of many towns. We should build on it and improve it.

“The transport interchange will join the bus services to the trains. We want to keep the services running.”

The work is expected to be divided into eight phases to minimise disruption to businesses and the public.

Workington residents were first asked questions about the project at the neighbourhood forum earlier this month.

A Traffic Regulation Order was approved by the county council’s Local Committee for Allerdale in 2007.

It will make it clearer where various parking/loading activities can take place.

Additional parking for the mobility impaired and loading/unloading facilities will also be provided.

Improvementswill include carriageways, new kerbs, resurfacing works and re-marking the roads.