A ROAD split between two authorities in the Duddon Valley has been called 'diabolical' by residents because it has not been fully gritted.
Neither the Ulpha road nor the Corney Fell road heading north from the A595 at Broughton is on a priority list for Cumberland Council, according to the website.
The road heading from Ulpha to Hall Dunnerdale in the direction of Seathwaite, Cockley Beck and ultimately Eskdale traverses between two councils. This has led to a loophole where a section called 'The Crook' between Hall Dunnerdale and Ulpha is on the gritting route for Westmorland and Furness Council, but when the road briefly goes into the Cumberland patch it is in neither council's gritting routes.
The road beyond Hall Dunnerdale is not on a priority route for gritters.
The short section that crosses into Cumberland has been called 'diabolical' and 'dangerous' by residents.
Until April this year, the roads were managed by South Lakeland District Council and Copeland Borough Council before the two new unitary authorities covering north and south Cumbria came into force.
Tina Logan said the roads are: "Wonderful on the South Lakes side of the river and diabolical on the Copeland side! Roads after the Newfield to Cockley Beck not good at all!"
"They grit to the Newfield Inn... the seven miles up the valley after that you're on your own," Vanessa Temple said.
Jess Bennett said: "They're actually gritting from Duddon Bridge to Ulpha Bridge( turning the gritter off there) then nothing till they turn the gritter back on at Seathwaite bridge and then stopping at the Newfield."
A Cumberland Council spokesperson replied: "Our Winter Service Policy explains which roads form part of our gritting routes during the colder months. The policy was consulted on and approved by Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet in 2021 and transferred to Cumberland Council on 1 April this year. It defines the Resilient Road Network (RRN), which includes the main routes as well as roads to schools. These roads are treated regularly. All other roads are treated as needed, after extended periods of ice/snow and as resources allow.
“The Ulpha road in the Duddon Valley is not part of the RRN and there is no school, and it was therefore not included in the agreed Winter Service Policy. The majority of the road sits in the Westmorland and Furness Council area and we have worked with them to agree that they will also treat the section of the road which sits in the Cumberland boundary, when they undertake treatment in this area.
“For more information on our policy, gritting routes and winter driving tips, please visit our website.”
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