Funding to develop the case for a northern relief road for Kendal is being sought as businesses continue to grapple with the closure of a key route in the town.

Cumbria County Council (CCC) has confirmed that it has prepared an application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for ‘feasibility funding’ for the Kendal Northern Development Route.

The new road would connect the A591 and the A6 and in a bid to ease congestion by diverting traffic around the town and create opportunities for new business development.

Calls for the road have grown in volume following the closure of Victoria Bridge, which carries the A6 across the River Kent. 

The bridge was closed for more than two weeks across July and early August after heavy rainfall undermined the piers supporting the 150-year-old structure.

More heavy rain last weekend forced first the partial, then full closure of the bridge again after causing more damage to its foundations.

The issue caused anger among business leaders and politicians who have accused CCC of failing to deal with damage initially caused during Storm Desmond back in 2015.

The closure has caused traffic chaos around the town, which already suffers from congestion when the M6 is closed between junctions 40 and 36 due to accidents.

On the bid for the Kendal Northern Development Route, CCC’s deputy leader Peter Thornton, said: “I am delighted that we have taken another step forward towards trying to secure the funding for the Kendal Northern Access Route.

“I sincerely hope that as a result of the council putting its full support behind it that the money required for the next stage of studies can now be secured.

“This route is essential to the people of Kendal and the local economy and the recent closure of Victoria Bridge has only emphasised the need for the new bypass for the town.”

Long-standing campaigners for the relief road Julian Rayner, one of the owners of major employer Lakeland Limited, and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, have been joined by Kendal Business Improvement District manager, Sarah Williams, in demanding action.

CCC’s application follows Transport for the North (TfN) submitting its ‘Regional Evidence Base’ to the DfT, identifying a number of key road and rail priorities across the region – including the Kendal Northern Access Route and improvements to the A595 at Bothel.

The schemes however, will face tough competition from other projects across the country.

CCC cabinet member for highways and transport Keith Little, said: “We welcome the fact that TfN has prioritised two schemes in Cumbria.

“If these schemes are successful, this will allow further development to progress, and as part of this, there will be further public consultation activity.”

Meanwhile, CCC has admitted it cannot give a reopening date for Victoria Bridge following the most recent closure, which is soon to enter its second week.

So far around five tonnes of material has been put in place to support the bridge’s damaged foundations, with the speed of further work dependent on river conditions.

But it has said that it expects the bridge to be reopened sooner than any changes could be made to neighbouring Stramongate Bridge, allowing it to become two-way.

“We are keeping the situation under review,” said CCC in an update.

Meanwhile, Tim Farron MP has written to CCC chief executive Katherine Fairclough demanding answers over the latest closure of Victoria Bridge so that local residents and businesses can plan ahead with more certainty.

He said: “I fully accept that the problems aren’t a result of delays after Storm Desmond, as the temporary fix at that point was supposed to last up to five years.

“However, it’s clear that the council have taken a risk when it comes to replacing the temporary fix with a permanent one, and that hasn’t come off.

“While it’s difficult to blame the council for the amount of rain we’ve had in recent weeks, this is the Lake District and wet summers aren’t unusual.  Many residents and businesses have contacted me wanting more certainty about the prospects are for the coming weeks.”

He added: “In the long term, this second closure adds more weight to our campaign for a northern relief road. It’s great news that pressure from Liberal Democrat councillors has led to a formal bid from the council to Transport for the North – and I’ll keep working in Parliament to press the case.

“But for now, local residents and businesses just deserve answers.”