Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will visit Cumbria to see first hand the problems with one of the county's key roads.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson has held talks with the Government minister saying that "immediate action" is needed to improve the A595.

And he stressed his fear that Cumbria's progress is being held back by poor infrastructure.

Mr Stevenson has persuaded Mr Grayling to visit the county and see the road, the main link between Carlisle and west Cumbria, for himself.

He said: "Given the difficult geography of Cumbria, it impossible for us to travel safely on a severely limited road network.

"Notwithstanding the current inconvenience for people travelling on this road on a regular basis, upgrading the A595 would benefit Cumbria from both economic and health perspectives.

“Thousands of new jobs will be created by the nuclear new build at Moorside.

"Cumbria can only utilise the economic opportunities that come with job creation if we have the transport links to support it.

“Therefore an upgraded road between West Cumbria, Carlisle and Barrow is vital."


Chris Grayling The prospect of thousands of new jobs at Moorside, near Sellafield - particularly during construction - and the pressure that scheme would put on parts of the road have seen calls to upgrade the A595 intensify.

Political pressure along all sections of the route for action, with outgoing Copeland MP Jamie Reed and Copeland's elected mayor, Mike Starkie, among those who have launched petitions demanding an upgrade.

Mr Stevenson has been campaigning for the A595 to be upgraded for a number of years and said he was keen to maintain pressure on the Government.

He added: “I am pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport will be able to see for himself the issues that the A595 presents.”

There are serious fears about how the road would cope were more services from Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital shifted to Carlisle as part of the NHS Success Regime's controversial proposals to reform healthcare.