Improvements to a main route linking north and south Cumbria remain top of the government's 'roads priority list', says transport secretary Chris Grayling.

The pledge - for the A595 - came as Mr Grayling launched a national Transport Investment Strategy which will see £1 billion used to help local councils tackle pinch points and traffic hotspots between towns and cities nationwide.

The route, which runs up the west coast to Carlisle, has a number of bottle necks, most notably at Dove Ford, that campaigners say require urgent attention.

On Monday, Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock accused Mr Grayling of snubbing the A595 in the latest round of confirmed major road improvement works.

But Mr Grayling has refuted this claim.

Responding directly, he writes: "When I visited Cumbria during the election I made a promise – I promised action on the A595.

"I can tell the people of Cumbria that the A595 is top of my roads priority list. Not least because [Copeland MP] Trudy Harrison is holding me to it.

"I understand Cumbrian concerns about the road, having seen it in ‘action’. It’s clearly not viable for the future to have a major route that carries HGVs from a port passing through a farmyard.

"And that’s why when I launched my national transport investment strategy yesterday I mentioned the road specifically as one that needed upgrading. The strategy will pave the way for far-reaching improvements for the A595 – and others like it in Cumbria and beyond."

He added that for the last 20 years, Government money has been used primarily on the motorway network and the management of roads like the A595 has been left to local authorities.

"They can – and do – bid successfully for cash to carry out important local projects.

And, indeed, one of them is just about to happen up the road. I can confirm that proposals for the Whitehaven Relief Road will go out for consultation next year. And, subject to that consultation being successful, that upgrade of the road will be delivered," he added.

"So I am delivering on my promise to see action for the A595. Not yet on the thorny issue of Grizebeck, but on another bottleneck that slows journeys through Cumbria.

"The new system I am introducing will see up to £1bn a year available for local authorities to carry out projects exactly like improving the A595. Or indeed the A590, which I know also causes concern to Cumbrian residents.


Chris Grayling "As transport secretary, my focus is firmly on improving transport for people who use it. For Cumbria, that means working to get rid of bottlenecks on main roads like the A595, or looking at ways we can take away the misery of through-traffic from rural towns and villages on busy routes.

"My plan to create a new Major Road Network will seek to identify the crucial links across the country where the annual £1bn investment can best be spent. And when that process is complete, I fully expect a compelling case to be made for a bypass at Grizebeck.

"My appeal to the people of Cumbria is this - make your voice heard. When the consultation is launched I want you to tell us which roads need our attention. You are the experts. You use the roads every day and know where the bottlenecks are.

"You run the businesses and know where they could expand if roads were improved. And you know where there are opportunities for Cumbria to grow and flourish with extra investment."