Also at today' Cumbria County Council meeting

Every time Cumbria County Council has met since my election to that body in May 2017 I have asked a question about the A595.

This is my personal "Cartago Delenda Est:" the ancient Roman statesman Cato said those words every time he spoke in the Senate to remind the Romans of the threat posed by Carthage. 
I have taken a leaf from Cato's book and make a point of reminding the county council at every meeting of how important it is to the people of West Cumbria it is to improve that road.

Here is the question I asked today to the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Cllr Keith Little.

"Will the portfolio holder 
  • join me in welcoming the massive and positive response to the A595 Whitehaven Relief Road consultation, to which there were more than 800 replies, and, 
  • agree with me that, following today's excellent news that the North of the county is getting much needed investment in the Carlisle relief road, this council's priorities should include working with Highways England and the Department of Transport to ensure that the West of the county gets investment in the new Whitehaven relief road, also badly needed?" 
Keith littles reply was that he did indeed agree. He said that a similar strong response to the equivalent consultation on the Carlisle relief road had been very helpful in providing the supporting evidence which helped secure that investment. 

He added that from comments made at the launch of the Transport for the North strategy, it was clear that the Whitehaven Relief Road is on the agenda of Highways England, Transport for the North, and the government as well as Cumbria County Council. He added that it looks like we have a target date for the construction of the Whitehaven Relief  Road, which is 2027.

(That date is within the timeframe which was suggested when Chris Grayling came to Copeland to launch the consultation on the Whitehaven Relief Road - the Secretary of State said it was hoped to include in the RIS II round of major road construction schemes which runs from 2022 to 2027.)

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