More pressure is being put on the Government to urgently improve one of Cumbria’s busiest – and most dangerous – roads.

Following the flooding in west Cumbria earlier this week, Copeland mayor Mike Starkie has launched a petition calling on ministers to stump up the cash to sort out the regularly problematic A595.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, Mr Starkie said the time for Government intervention had come. He also invited the politician to visit the the areas affected.

Persistent rain forced the road to be closed in two places, at Bootle and Duddon Bridge, on Monday meaning drivers travelling to Millom had to take a 100-mile detour.

After visiting flood-affected residents in Bootle on Tuesday, Mr Starkie branded the road as not “fit for purpose”.

In his letter to Mr Grayling, Mr Starkie wrote: “Severe damage to properties and possessions was a very sad situation to witness and my heart goes out to all the residents adversely effected.


Mike Starkie “It is also very important for me to point out that in the event of an emergency at Sellafield a road closure would greatly impede evacuation and of course emergency vehicles with potentially devastating consequences.

“The situation regarding the A595 is not new. Over many years there has been much disquiet in Copeland in respect of the lack of good road infrastructure.”

He added: “It is a ridiculous, inconvenient, and unnecessary situation that occurs far too regularly.

“The inconvenience to residents and business is bad enough but we must also think of anyone unfortunate enough to have a medical emergency during these closures.

“It is high time the Government listened and at the very least carry out the urgent upgrades that are required to our major arterial A road that at one stage travels through a farm yard.”

Keith Little, who holds Cumbria County Council’s brief for highways and transport, said it is the whole stretch of road – from Carlisle to Barrow – that needs investment.

“What we need is, and this is what people like Carlisle’s MP John Stevenson among others has been asking for, is investment right along the road,” Mr Little said.

“The Government is aware of it and we have been doing studies of our own from the council and we now have some detailed information.”

To sign the petition visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/165517 .