FRUSTRATION about the lack of investment and protection for Cumbria’s infrastructure is reaching boiling point – with many claiming the county is repeatedly neglected and ignored.

The A590 was closed for almost eight hours and trains cancelled as Cumbria’s transport infrastructure struggled to cope with relentless rain which lasted more than 24 hours.

Despite repeated warnings from motorists to the Highways Agency, Cumbria County Council and police about the treacherous conditions on the A590 at Lindale Hill, no action was taken until a four-car crash brought the road to a standstill for most of today.

Two other collisions had already been reported to emergency services on Wednesday afternoon before the major collision this morning at around 6.30am.

This week’s events have further bolstered the perception that areas in the North play second fiddle to the South. Across social media, motorists and residents alike have been voicing their anger. “The army would be mobilised if this was south of Birmingham,” one said, while another argued: “It’s not London and the South; no-one in government is interested in this area unless they are on holiday in the Lakes.”

Others challenged Cumbria’s politicians about their response to this week’s flooding. Many believe the official multi-agency response to Wednesday’s flooding was inadequate. Cumbria has been hit by a series of major flooding incidents over the years, with events in 2005, 2009, 2012 and most recently last year. It is that background, and the coordinated response in previous years, which has led some to question why this week’s flooding was not taken more seriously.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron was in his constituency yesterday and visited flooded businesses, while calling for the government to speed up improvements to flood defences.

Copeland’s Conservative MP, Trudy Harrison, was one of those caught up in the commuter chaos on Wednesday. She said: “I absolutely share the anger and frustration of the hundreds of commuters who were left stranded and helpless at stations across Cumbria – I was one of them.“My Cumbrian colleagues and I are working together to tackle the issue of flooding across Cumbria and will be holding a joint meeting with the floods minister Therese Coffey to ensure that Cumbria is not forgotten and investment in flood defences remains a priority.

“On Wednesday, the chancellor announced the continued funding for flood defences across the country and I will fight to ensure Cumbria gets its fair share.”

Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock, was in Westminster for the budget announcement when flooding began on Wednesday. He also voiced his frustrations over the area’s transport connections in light of the week’s events.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Woodcock said: “The travel chaos today has shown – again – how vulnerable our area is to being cut off. I want to say a big thank you to everyone working hard to restore connections, clear drains and support communities.

“Today has reminded us that we are one episode of bad weather and one crash away from being almost totally cut off. What if a patient needs an an emergency lifesaving transfer to another hospital while the A590 is down and helicopter cover is elsewhere? What civil contingency measures like sandbags are on hand for Kirkby or Ulverston residents if they face floods?”

Mr Woodcock said he was given regular briefings by the Environment Agency, Highways England, Northern Rail and Cumbria County Council throughout this week’s events. He will hold a special public meeting next week that will assess the resilience of Furness infrastructure to this week’s floods and look at how to defend communities from flooding.

He is inviting residents, councillors and representatives from relevant agencies to the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, on Thursday November 30 from 7pm. The meeting was originally planned to focus on problems in Kirkby but has been broadened to look at issues across Furness.

Although properties in Furness escaped the worst of the flooding this time, Kirkby was among several Cumbrian communities to be badly hit by flash-flooding at the end of September.

Mr Woodcock said: “My aim is to bring agencies and residents together and look at what we can do to improve resilience and protect homes, businesses and transport links.”

Among those expected to attend the floods meeting are local councillors, members of the flooding committee, representatives of the Environment Agency, United Utilities and South Cumbria Rivers Trust.