A £5m funding boost for one of the county's most important roads has been welcomed.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) secured the money through the Government’s ‘Getting Building Fund’ and it will be used to improve the A595 Greyhound Inn/Torpenhow junction, which was identified as a priority during public consultation in 2018 and 2019.

Part of the funding will also be used for preliminary works to enable a larger project that will deliver climbing lanes and broader route alignment on the A595 at Bothel.

An application was made to the Department for Transport for funding in August 2019 for the A595 Bothel Strategic Improvement project and a decision has not yet been made.

Proposals to reduce the speed limit to 50mph on the A595 as it passes Bothel are also progressing.

Cumbria County Council is planning further engagement with the local community and other stakeholders to allow for further comments and feedback on the proposals as the design develops.

Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The county council has been working hard to secure improvements to the A595 in the Bothel area alongside the local community because we believe it’s a really important scheme.

"The improvements will not only improve journey times and help boost the county’s economy but also create a safer and more resilient road network.

"I’d like to thank the public for their feedback and support to date.

"There will be further opportunities for public consultation in the new year.”

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) Board Member Dr Steve Curl, who leads on Transport and Infrastructure for CLEP, said: “We were delighted to secure funding through the Government’s Getting Building Fund for this important scheme, which has the potential to significantly improve transport links within the county and therefore assist our economy as it strives to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"CLEP’s contribution will help fund further design work and allow essential data gathering as well as some physical reconstruction ahead of the full scheme, which still awaits Department for Transport funding approval.”