One of Cumbria's most notorious stretches of road has been left out of a key Government transport plan.

It means the A595 between Carlisle and Cockermouth - a stretch renowned for closures due to crashes and bad weather - is potentially less likely to secure funding for future upgrades.

Instead the Government is prioritising the A596 in its Major Road Network (MRN), which would instead take traffic along the coastal route via Wigton, Aspatria, Maryport and Workington.

Another high-profile stretch of the A595, near Barrow, is also omitted, as is the A591 - the main route through the Lake District.

The Government stresses these are only proposals at this stage, and could change following consultation.

Health campaigners who have been fighting proposals to move more urgent services from Whitehaven to Carlisle are among those concerned that the A595 could miss out on crucial improvements.

Plans have already been agreed to send seriously ill children and emergency stroke patients to the Cumberland Infirmary, while more high-risk births will also have to go to Carlisle in future.

Those opposing the move are concerned about the distance involved, but also the state of the single carriageway road.

It is also well used by wagons transporting goods to and from the motorway, and is renowned for farm vehicles.

Other sections of the A595, from Grizebeck up to Sellafield, are included in the draft transport plan.

However the Cockermouth to Carlisle stretch is not, nor the stretch from Grizebeck to Dalton-in-Furness - which includes the notorious Dove Ford pinch-point, dubbed "the worst bottleneck in Cumbria" by campaigners in the south of the county.

The A591, the key link road through the Lake District, is also omitted in the current consultation.

The transport plan aims to single out England's most important A-roads, which would then benefit from up to £1 billion a year investment in bypasses, road widening and safety enhancements. Councils would, however, still have to bid for funding.

The Department of Transport stressed that it is still out to consultation and the map could change, depending on feedback.

Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young said they and the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) would be responding, calling on this stretch of the A595 and the A591 to be included.

But he is also urging members of the public to take part.

Mr Young said roads that secure Major Road Network status would be prioritised alongside motorways and trunk roads, making it more likely they would secure key investment for improvements.

The Labour councillor said it is only when you zoom in closely on the map that you realise the A596 has priority over the A595.

He said he hoped it was a mistake but when contacted by CN Group, the Department of Transport confirmed that the map was correct - though could potentially change, depending on consultation.

Mr Young said: "Cumbria County Council will be responding with the LEP, and saying it should be the A595 not the A596.

"The A595 has been a major issue, with transport between the Carlisle and Whitehaven hospitals a real issue.

"I hope more people will also respond. The Government need to hear that they have got it wrong. We will also be saying that the A591 should be in it too. That's a very strategic road for us.

"Some of the A595 is included, but it all should be. The stretch between Carlisle and Cockermouth has been missed."

Carlisle's Conservative MP John Stevenson is also confused by the proposals, and has flagged up concerns with his Government.

"I've brought it to the attention of (Transport Secretary) Chris Grayling. I think the A595 should be our priority. I don't know what the thinking was, but that's the one that matters most to Cumbria," he said.

"To be honest, the A595 north of Whitehaven is arguably more important than the A595 going south, because of the hospital."

Annette Robson, of the We Need West Cumberland Hospital campaign group, said there are already more patients travelling between hospitals, and transport is a prime concern.

"The reality is that patients and staff should be able to travel safely between our hospitals in Whitehaven, Carlisle and beyond, and vice versa. That clearly is not the case at the moment so an upgrade on this dangerous road is important," she said.

"However an upgrade would not make it any less important for the West Cumberland Hospital to retain consultant-led maternity, paediatrics and other vital services. Given the geography of the county and size of population, we need West Cumberland Hospital along with all its services and a safer road system."

The consultation is open until March 19.

To view the map in full and leave feedback, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-for-the-creation-of-a-major-road-network


Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has previously affirmed his commitment to the A595.

Responding to recent calls for investment from Barrow's Labour MP John Woodcock, the Secretary of State said the route was still part of the Government's strategic plan.

"When I visited Cumbria last year, I said that the A595 was at the top of my priority list. I stand by that statement.

"I reaffirmed my pledge in July, when I singled out the A595 as one of the roads needing an upgrade when I announced the Transport Investment Strategy.

"The A595 is vital to the county’s economy, but is blighted by congestion and hold-ups. I want to remove this barrier and help Cumbria’s economy flourish."

He said there are already plans for a Whitehaven bypass, which would have wider benefits to the rest of west Cumbria by improving links for businesses and to jobs.

"Not only will a relief road for Whitehaven ease congestion on the A595, and improve air quality in the town. There will also be further benefits to the wider communities as drivers will no longer feel the need to rat-run through villages," he added.

On the Major Road Network, he said parts of the A595 and A596 were under consideration, and urged people to submit their views by taking part in the consultation.

Mr Grayling added: "If this new tier of roads comes into force in 2020, it would be up to Cumbria County Council and Transport for the North to put forward plans for enhancing these roads."

He added that he had been told there was a "compelling case" for a bypass at Grizebeck and looked forward to seeing it.