OUTDATED Cumbria roads which are groaning under the weight of modern day traffic have once again missed out on a substantial pot of money from central government.

The department for transport have recently released £350m to fund road improvements across swathes of the UK.

While there are dozens spread across the North East and the Midlands there is only one development taking place in Cumbria, and crucially, it is neither the A590 or A595. The omission has caused concern among those with a key interest in the improvements desperately needed for our roads.

Bary Rabone, chairman of the A595 Action Group, said: "We regard the Grizebeck/Dove Ford pinch point as the worst in the county and to exclude it from forthcoming improvements in Cumbria would be unthinkable and would defy all logic.

"The A595 Action Group regards the urgent need to start work now on this high priority problem so that our infrastructure is ready for the huge developments planned in Furness and Copeland.

"The accidents, near misses, logjams and tailbacks that occur at this point result from modern traffic trying to negotiate a section of highway that was built for the horse and cart. The vehicles are also getting larger and more numerous by the year. This government decision is a snub to village residents, campaigners and motorists who will be feeling badly let down."

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MP John Woodcock who has long lobbied for improvements to our road networks, said: "Yet again you're seeing Cumbria and other parts of the North ignored despite our clear economic need for these infrastructure improvements."

County councillor Keith Little, cabinet member for highways, said in order to secure government funding local authorities had to provide data sets proving the need for investment. This is in spite of the significant amount of data already compiled by the council.

He said: "Data sets look at the condition of the road and pinch points.

"It can't be our own data."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, said: “The secretary of state for transport has already committed to improving the A595, stating it as ‘top of his roads priority list’ as part of the National Transport Investment Strategy. Preliminary plans are already under way instructed by Chris Grayling and the Highways Agency."