Tim Farron launches petition calling for Government to dual the A66

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is encouraging people in Cumbria to sign his new petition which urges the Government to give the green light to long awaited plans to dual the A66 from Penrith to Scotch Corner.

The £1.6bn project was thrown into doubt last autumn after it was announced that it was being included in a spending review carried out by the Department for Transport.

Tim recently met with the Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, alongside Rishi Sunak the MP for neighbouring Richmond & Northallerton, to make the case for the scheme.

The Minister said that a final decision on the project won’t be announced until the Treasury’s Spending Review, which the Government have confirmed will now take place in June.

Tim said: “Dualling the A66 would bring huge benefits to our area – reducing congestion, providing a big boost to the North’s economy, and helping to limit the number of serious and fatal accidents which tragically are a regular occurrence on this road.

“Now the Government have told us the final decision won’t be made until June, we know we have a little bit more time to make the case that ministers should give this project the green light.

“Please back our campaign today by signing our petition and sharing it with your friends and family.”

The petition can be signed here.