A proposed road intended to ease congestion and protect Kendal from diverted motorway traffic has missed out on Government investment, prompting Westmorland and Furness Council to seek talks with the Department for Transport.
The council said the Government had rejected plans to include the Kendal Northern Access Route in its investment programme. Council bosses described the decision as disappointing but said the scheme remained a long-term aspiration.
What the route would have done
The proposed single-carriageway road would run north of Kendal, linking the A591 with the A6. Its stated aims were to reduce congestion and support economic growth in the town.
The council also said the route would improve the resilience of Kendal’s highway network, particularly when the M6 is closed and traffic is diverted through the town. Those diversions can cause significant delays in Kendal.
Councillor Peter Thornton, cabinet member for highways and ICT, said the decision was “extremely disappointing”.
“The Northern Access Route would have strengthened the resilience of our transport network in Kendal, especially whenever traffic is diverted off the M6 and through Kendal.
He said the project could also reduce congestion and improve air quality in the historic town, where modern traffic volumes are a challenge.
Council seeks meeting with ministers
Westmorland and Furness Council has asked to meet the Department for Transport to challenge the reasons for the decision. It noted that the minister had said the decision did not prevent the scheme from being considered in the future.
The council said it would continue developing reliable and resilient transport networks, pointing to projects including Grizebeck, the A66 dualling, support for bus services and Active Travel schemes.
It also said it remained committed to working with partners such as Kendal Futures on ways to improve resilience in Kendal’s transport network.