More warning needs to be given for road closures

Responding to concerns raised by Garsdale Parish Council to the emergency closure of the A684 between Sedbergh and Garsdale Head, local MP Tim Farron is asking the County Council to give more warning of road closures in remote areas in the future.

Tim said: "While I fully understand the reason for this emergency closure, it appears that little was done to inform local residents who have been effectively cut off. At the very least the local parish council should have been notified as soon as the closure was known about.

"Garsdale Parish Council have managed to send a letter to the 100 or so residents who are directly affected by the closure - why could the County Council not have done likewise?"

In his letter to the County Council, Tim has also expressed his concern about the back-log of maintenance on roads in the Sedbergh area.

He continued: "Garsdale Parish Council have been pressing the County Council to repair sections of this road for many months. However, something is only happening now because the road has collapsed. I'm hoping that the County Council will now move to repair other sections of the A684, and other roads in the area, which have been highlighted for maintenance."