Plans to demolish a popular Workington pub to improve access to the town’s port have prompted a petition to save it.
Allerdale council has applied to the Government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund to support the delivery of the Workington Gateway project.
Part of the scheme includes improvements to the Ramsay Brow junction of the A66 and A596 – which, if successful would see the demolition of Henry’s, the pub on the corner of the junction.
A report about the authority’s bid said: “The proposal will address two pinch-points for HGVs accessing the Port of Workington.
“The first, at Ramsay Brow, will address a longstanding issue whereby HGVs are unable to turn right at the junction, resulting in longer journey times and increased use of the
A596 to access the port, causing disruption to local communities along this route.
“The proposed junction improvements will require the acquisition and demolition of the public house know as Henry’s as well as adjacent buildings.
“The county council is seeking to negotiate the purchase of the land required but it is recognised that it may ultimately be necessary to acquire the site by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order and the delivery programme has been developed on this basis and taken into account in term of the risk register that has been developed for the project.
The proposal has been met with concern in the town and an online petition has been created.
It says: “The landmark building currently housing Henry’s dates back to the 1720s and as such it stands as one of the last remaining historical buildings in Workington town centre.
“The building has so far survived decades of often misguided restructuring and redevelopment carried out by successive councils which has resulted in the destruction of many of the most prominent buildings of historical significance within the town over past decades.
“I feel that the destruction of a much loved and historically significant building in order to possibly make it easier for heavy goods vehicles to turn a corner in the middle of town is at best an ill-conceived idea very much against what is in the interests and the hearts of the towns residents.”
f the bid is successful, other parts of the project are:
Public realm improvements on Washington Street
The Ramsay Brow junction works will allow for improved pedestrian facilities to be provided.
This will include a new ‘super crossing’ which will make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to move from the retail core to the heritage and nightlife areas of Workington and Curwen Park.
Curwen Park access and path network
Providing a new cycle path in Curwen Park which runs parallel to Ramsay Brow and connects to the National Cycle Network.
This will allow a number of improvements to pedestrian/cycling infrastructure in the park and install new lighting for Workington Hall.
This will attract more visitors to the hall and park, which is a key leisure and heritage asset.
