Farron welcomes Staveley bridge progress but urges quicker completion date

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that the bridge in Staveley will be replaced by Easter, praising the hard work of local campaigners. However, he has warned that this date "might not come soon enough" for some local businesses and has urged the county council to continue looking at ways to bring the completion date forward.

Local people had originally been told that the bridge might not be replaced until September next year.

Tim said: "This is a very welcome step in the right direction, and local campaigners deserve a huge amount of credit for their tireless work.

"However, for some local businesses, Easter might not come soon enough. There are still eight months until the bridge will be finished, meaning the village will have been cut in two for well over a year.

"Local people are doing their best to cope in the difficult circumstances, but I am urging the county council to continue to look at ways that the final completion date can be brought forward."