[A] revised package of works for Cockermouth Market Place has been discussed at a recent meeting between officers and councillors from Cumbria County Council and Allerdale Borough Council.
The group considered the forthcoming programme of highway improvement works for Cockermouth and the surrounding area.
The decision was taken to postpone remedial works for Market Place – which had been scheduled for early in the New Year – due to ongoing works linked to the Lidl and West Cumbria Farmers developments that will take place in January and February 2018.
These works, which include creating a new access point opposite Fairfield car park, will involve a Temporary One Way Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO), allowing traffic to travel up Station Road between Lorton Street and Gallowbarrow only, for up to five weeks. The TTRO will be effective from 15 January 2018, and is scheduled to conclude by 25 February 2018.
The associated diversion will take drivers coming into town along Gallowbarrow, Main Street and Station Street.
Councillor Keith Little, Cabinet Member for Highways said: “The January – February works on Station Road linked to the new Lidl and West Cumbria Farmers development have been planned for some time and the developer and utility companies are geared up for this. There is potential for too much disruption by carrying out the Market Place works at the same time. We’ll continue to listen to the businesses and residents in and around Market Place and reschedule the Market Place repair works for a future date that works for the local community – although we appreciate there is never a good time for roadworks to be carried out.
“One thing that I would like to stress is that when the Market Place repair works are undertaken, pedestrian access to all of the businesses and footways, and vehicular access to Riverside and Bitterbeck car parks will be maintained at all times.”
Cumbria County Council is grateful to the local community for their patience and understanding whilst we schedule and carry out this programme of essential highways improvement works. If anyone would like to discuss these works in more detail, please contact Cumbria Highways Hotline on 0300 303 2992.
