A £10.5 million scheme to create a gateway into Workington has taken a step forward.
The plans include widening the Ramsay Brow junction onto the A596 – which will mean the Henry Curwen pub will need to be demolished – plus widening Hall Brow.
The proposal has been put forward as the junction is a pinchpoint for HGVs travelling to the Port of Workington.
Now, the application for that and the wider scheme has been submitted to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for approval.
Allerdale council has been working with Cumbria County Council and West House on the project,
The application has been submitted by the council working closely with Cumbria County Council and West House.
Also included in the plans are improvements to the local cycling and walking facilities in the area with an east/west cycle route through Hall Park and better crossings on Hall Brow and Ramsay Brow to Hall Park.
There are also plans to make the park more attractive and accessible, Allerdale council said.
It includes improved lighting for Workington Hall, and the creation of a walled garden social enterprise centre with charity West House.
The centre would provide training and employability skills to adults with learning disabilities and will support local community groups and schools through the provision of horticultural activities within on-site gardening and wildlife areas. Plans also include a new café.
Mike Johnson, leader of Allerdale council, said: “I’m really pleased that we have been able to submit this application to the Levelling Up Fund. I hope that it will be successful, as it will not only improve the transport infrastructure in Workington for the benefit of local businesses, but also make Hall Park and the surrounding area even more attractive to local residents and visitors.”
Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, added: “The proposed improvements to our highways network at the Ramsey Brow junction and Hall Brow will make a big difference to local road users in these areas and if successful will support development at the Port of Workington. I’m pleased to see the application included plans to invest in cycling and walking in the town as encouraging active travel is also a key priority for the county council as part of our Local Cycling and Walking Plans for Workington.”
James Cox, CEO of West House said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be included within this application. The proposed walled garden will allow us to not only support more adults with learning disabilities, giving them essential training and employability skills, but will also enable us to create a safe, inclusive space for the community and a much-needed centre for our current social enterprise provision.”
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson said: “I have long campaigned for these improvements at these bottlenecks. This ambitious multi-million pound project would open up the gateway to the town, and I am delighted to give it my backing.
“The works would resolve a long-standing transport issue by providing increased road capacity to support the growth of the town – reducing congestion and journey times, and relieving pressure on the wider road network such as our towns and villages along the A596.
“The bid also includes really exciting improvements to the Workington Hall parklands, making this space more attractive and easier to access for visitors and locals alike, while also allowing us to deliver some additional flood resilience work at Hall Brow
“I will continue to work with Allerdale and Cumbria councils, and their successor Cumberland from April, to deliver on the commitments that I made in 2019.”
