Fears that a road could be built through parkland around a ruined hall have been resurrected – years after the plan was last mooted.

A new link road between Workington Bridge and the A66 is among 30 potential highways projects set out in a report issued by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

Another could include widening the A596 and the Ramsay Brow junction, with Henry’s Bar being demolished to provide space.

The move has been met with concern and prompted calls for the public to fight for the future of the site.

County councillor Alan Barry said: “We never want to see a road going anywhere through the park. It’s against the will of the people.”

Margaret Nichol, of Mill Field, a member of Friends of Workington Hall Parklands, said: “We’ve got to protect the place we’ve got and I’d urge the community to fight to protect it.”

The LEP report details a host of possible work west of the M6 that could improve road travel and support economic growth.

It states that the parklands proposal, described as a link road between the Port of Workington and the A66, would have a large adverse effect on the landscape or townscape and on heritage.

If it went ahead, the report estimates it would take more than seven years from the start of design work to complete the road and cost between £50 million and £100m.

The West of M6 Strategic Connectivity Study was commissioned jointly with Highways England to consider the potential impact of planned major commercial developments on the road network.

LEP director Graham Hayward said it provided evidence to help secure funding if a need developed to progress any of the schemes.

He said the projects were identified options rather than firm proposals for development.

He added: “The potential pressure to be delivered is likely to be increased if the likes of the new nuclear power station and West Coast Mining happen, and particularly if they want to make greater use of the Port of Workington.”

There has been no discussion about the route a possible new road might take through the parklands, he said.

A road through the park, which is home to the historic Workington Hall, was first mooted more than two decades ago. The flat areas of the parklands, including Mill Field, Hall Park and the sports pitches, are protected through the charity Fields in Trust, meaning nothing can be built on them without consultation with the charity.

The Curwen Park area, surrounding Workington Hall, is not included in that protection.

Mrs Nichol added: “I’m gobsmacked. I can see things could need doing because the traffic in and out of town at certain times of day is horrendous but it’s the only piece of land of its kind in the town.

“Somebody in an office somewhere will see that piece of land as an easy route. They don’t see that it’s the only place where people can see young lambs on their doorstep and see swans hatching. It is very well used. I’d hate to think they could put a road through it.”

Mark Jenkinson, a director of Workington Heritage Group, said: “I can’t see any way they could bring a road across there without seriously affecting the amenity of local residents and the historical site.”