Pothole Issues

Dear resident

Thank you for completing my roads and transport survey and returning it to me. I have read all the responses with interest.

I think this is quite possibly the largest response I have had to a fact-finding survey. I think that tells me how important a decent road network is to people in and around Carlisle.

For information:-

99% of respondents told me that they are unhappy with how Cumberland Council are tackling road repairs and maintenance.

34% have answered that they feel there are too many potholes in the Carlisle area to list these individually for action.

Interestingly, and for the more medium term, 92% of respondents felt that the A69 should be dualled between Carlisle and Newcastle and 78% would like to see the A69 de-trunked at Warwick Bridge and the A689 airport road re-trunked. 79% would like to see improvements to the A595.

As you are aware, Cumberland Council will receive an uplift of £1.9million for roads for this year and the next – and £130million has been earmarked for our roads over the next decade. That does not include last month’s announcement of £148m for transport in Cumberland, from reallocated HS2 funding.

I wrote to the Chief Executive of the Cumberland Council in January of this year expressing concern over the state of our roads and asked for an action plan plus copies of inspection and maintenance schedules.

I have now written again with the latest information you have provided me with and wait to see what immediate action will be taken and how the additional funding from Government will be spent. I enclose a list of the streets and roads you included in your response, plus the ones I have seen as I go about the city and surrounding areas.

In addition I have included in my correspondence some general points, about the increase in cyclists riding on pavements due to the state of the roads, the general quality of repairs and the recurrence of potholes in the same location, and the general upkeep of markings on our road work.

I have been pleased to see some council activity in some areas this past fortnight since my survey went out. That is a step in the right direction so long may it continue.

I shall keep you informed.

Yours sincerely

John Stevenson
Member of Parliament for Carlisle