Published at 13:04, Tuesday, 27 July 2010

CONTROVERSIAL plans to shut a vital link between Furness and west Cumbria have been slammed by councillors.

The A595 between Soutergate and Bailiff Ground in Kirkby is set to close for three weeks in autumn for a major revamp.

Cumbria County Council says the work to relay the road is forcing it to shut the road entirely.

At the latest Duddon Parish Council meeting councillors blasted the plans, arguing the road should instead be closed between 9pm to 6am.

The work, the start date of which is yet to be confirmed, will force drivers to take a detour along the A5092 before joining the A590 at Greenodd, with some journeys being more than doubled.

Speaking at the meeting last Thursday Councillor Jeff Barker described the decision to close the road to all traffic except emergency vehicles as “monstrous”.

He said: “I think they are misleading us by closing the road. I think it’s monstrous that they should close the whole of the road off.”

Cllr Barker called on residents to make their feelings known to the chief executive of Cumbria County Council, Albert Richardson, at the Charter Fair on August 1.

Councillor, Joss Curwen, a member of South Lakeland District Council, supported Cllr Barker’s view.

He said: “It’s appalling, we should be sticking together and writing a strong letter to the chief executive of Cumbria County Council.

“We should say it [the work] should be done between the hours of 9pm to 6am, they will let the emergency services through but what if you have an emergency?”

A county council spokesman said due to the extent of the work full closure was the only option. He said: “As we'll be digging to a substantial depth to make the improvements, the road would not be in a state where it could be reopened during the day.

“Doing it under full closure rather than attempting to open and reopen it at various stages means the scheme will ultimately be completed more quickly, and the narrow width of the carriageway in this area means carrying out the work under lane closure is not possible.”

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