CUMBERLAND Council has provided an update on works being carried out at Thirlmere, following an extended period of closure of the route.

The council said that United Utilities have now completed works on the West Road at Thirlmere, with officers now 'working as fast and diligently as possible' to allow the route to reopen.

Cumberland Council proposed a permanent road closure on the U7003,  the West Road at Thirlmere, following severe damage caused by Storm Arwen in November 2021.

Previous assessments by the landowners United Utilities (UU) evaluated the full face of Rough Crag, determining hazards, necessitating the continuation of the road closure.

The closure meant that walkers, cyclists and horse riders were forced to use the busy A591 on the eastern side of the lake. 

The scheme, expected to take up to 12 weeks when it began, started in February and has involved specialist contractors working at height to remove storm-damaged trees, loose rocks and material that is currently suspended on the Crag above the road.

The council issued an update today, May 10, saying that although essential repair works have been completed by United Utilities, officers will need to review a report on the works to make sure that the the road 'is able to safely reopen'.

In a statement on social media, Cumberland Council said: "Whilst we are pleased that the essential repairs to Rough Crag have now been completed by United Utilities, along with our technical consultants, we now need to review the report and works that have been carried out to ensure that the Crag has been returned to at least a comparable condition than that before Storm Arwen when the damage occurred.

"The report from United Utilities was only handed to our highways officers at the end of last week.

"As such, we are not currently in a position to make a decision formally until next week at the earliest as to whether the road is able to safely reopen.

"Although the risk of anything happening may be low, on the grounds of public safety which is our main priority and to comply with our statutory duty, it is considered that the road must remain closed until assurances are received and work has been reviewed.

"Our officers are working as fast and as diligently as possible to get the road open again, and we’ll provide further public communications once we feel it is safe to do so."