Tim Farron asks for minister’s support in campaign to keep Junction 38 open

Yesterday in Parliament, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron asked Treasury ministers to help minimise disruption caused by work to replace eight deteriorating M6 motorway bridges near Tebay.

Tim is working alongside local councillors, residents and businesses to urge National Highways to reconsider their plans to partially close Junction 38 of the M6 for four years in light of the damage it is going to cause the community.

A survey of the impacts of the M6 Lune Gorge Structure Renewal Scheme found that the closure will cost the local area up to 10 million pounds in reduced profits for local businesses, farms, increased living costs for residents, and the loss of 150 local jobs affecting hundreds of families.

Tim also met with National Highways representatives in Parliament earlier this week to make the case for them to build temporary slip roads at Junction 38 so that residents aren’t forced to make huge roundtrips in order to get to work and school.

Speaking during a ministerial statement in the House of Commons on the UK Infrastructure 10-year strategy, Tim said: “The Chief Secretary may be aware that a huge maintenance project is about to begin on the most beautiful stretch of motorway in the country, the M6 at Lune Gorge. 

“Eight bridges under and over that motorway will need replacing in the coming years.

“Will he have a look at the resource that is being made available to mitigate the impact on the local community? The plan is to close the northbound exit and the southbound exit consecutively for three years, and to close the A685 bridge connecting Kendal to Tebay. 

“Will he make sure that there is resource to ensure that there are temporary slip roads, so that local communities are not cut off?”

Responding the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “I am sure that the honourable gentleman makes a very good case, which Ministers in the Department for Transport will need to answer.”