A £1bn boost is heading towards Cumbria after assurances by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

The money is set to be used to make the rest of the A66 into a dual carriageway but this has been met with some opposition.

Eden District Council leader Virginia Taylor admitted that this investment is not her priority, but would like to see safety improvements on the route between Penrith and Scotch Corner.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid said: “Our roads are the arteries of our country. We will soon launch the new roads investment strategy with £29 billion committed to strategic and local roads over the next five years.

“And today we are getting the shovels out early on several important road projects.”

Kevin Beaty, the former Conservative council leader for Eden, confirmed that £1bn had been allocated to the work on the A66 saying it would be mad not to make it a priority.

Labour politician Keith Little, who holds the transport brief at Cumbria County Council, welcomed the Government’s intention to invest in the road.

He said: “It will do well for Cumbria – we just need to make sure that it doesn’t bypass all the little villages and stop access, but it makes connections for them much better.

“The big part for us will be the when the A66 comes into Penrith and what we are going to do about the roundabout and the blockages that are in Penrith, and that’s going to be critical.