MP welcomes action to fix Appleby Road after long campaign

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has thanked local residents and councillors David and Shirley Evans after Cumbria County Council agreed to fix Appleby Road.

The long running campaign looks like it could be heading to success after the Council agreed to put aside funding to fix the road. Tim and local councillors have long campaigned to improve the road surface. Local residents have continually raised the issue and the team have lobbied both United Utilities (UU) and the County Council for a long term solution.

They have now called for the council and the UU to work together to minimise disruption for commuters and local residents when the work is done

In a reply to Tim about the issue, Diane Wood, the Chief Executive of Cumbria County Council said:

"Officers are aware of the condition of the A685 Appleby Road in Kendal and funding has previously been allocated within maintenance programmes. However there are problems with settlement within the United Utilities (UU) sewer apparatus under the highway which has contributed to the current poor condition. Cumbria Highways have been pursuing UU over a number of years about their works programmes. Discussions with UU have been ongoing with regards to them investigating the cause and carrying out their own repairs and we now have their commitment to repair the sewer. Once UU have completed their work, Cumbria Highways will resurface this length of Appleby Road and an appropriate allocation has been made within the budget for the next financial year 2014/2015."

Tim said: "This is good news and it is great to hear the council has put funds aside to fix the road. I want them to work with local people and United Utilities to minimise disruption for residents, I don't want the road being dug up twice. We need to fix the pipes and resurface the road at the same time.

"I want to thank local residents and councillors Dave and Shirley Evans for their work and campaigning on this issue. Whenever I speak to residents in that area of town, it's the main issue they raise with me. I'm pleased that we have been able to make some progress, but we won't stop campaigning until the road is fixed."

County Councillor Shirley Evans added: "It is great to hear that the council and United Utilities have at last agreed to sort out the Appleby Road problem. We will keep the pressure on them to ensure these promises do not get forgotten. Residents have had to wait far too long already and prompt action is now essential."