Traffic chaos shows that Minister must give green light to Kendal northern relief road - MP

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, urging her to give the green light for plans for a northern relief road for Kendal.

The town has been gridlocked all day after the northbound carriageway of the M6 between Kirkby Lonsdale and Shap was closed from this morning following an accident.

In 2023, the previous government pledged £460 million for 21 'smaller road schemes' across the north, including a new road linking the A591 Windermere Road to the A6 Shap Road north of Kendal.

However in July, the Department for Transport announced that the future of the scheme had been placed under review with a final decision set to be announced at the end of the year.

Writing to the Transport Secretary, Tim said: “Today once again Kendal finds itself in traffic chaos due to the closure of the northbound carriageway on the M6 between Kirkby Lonsdale and Shap.

“This is an absolute disaster for local businesses, residents, and visitors. 

“But it also nothing new. This has been a problem for decades. 

“Given the narrow streets and bridges, our town centre isn’t designed for modern traffic and therefore it doesn’t take a lot for things to go wrong.

“A northern relief road would take lorries and other traffic out of the town centre, be more resilient to events and enable us to make the town centre more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

“It would also unlock the potential of the business and industrial sites on the A6 north east of Kendal and be a huge driver of economic growth.

“This is something I have raised with transport minister after transport minister, only to be met with warm words and very little action.

“I note your announcement from July where a proposed new road linking the A591 Windermere Road to the A6 Shap Road north of Kendal was included in a list of schemes under review by your department.

“After years and years of disappointment, please will you commit the Government to finally giving this project the green light?”