A petition calling for changes to the plans to partially close the M6’s Junction 38 for up to four years has been presented to Downing Street.
National Highways will replace eight deteriorating bridges and Junction 38, near Tebay, will be closed southbound for 18 months, and then northbound for 18 months while essential work is carried out to repair bridges at the Lune Gorge.
The plans have caused outrage.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron joined residents and business owners from Tebay to hand over the petition, signed by over 5,500 people.
Mr Farron presented the petition alongside local residents Charlotte Iniff and Steve Crook. Also joining them was Sarah Dunning, the chair of Westmorland who run Tebay services, and Jonathan Capper, the managing director of Lyon Equipment Limited in Tebay.
Mr Farron said: “Of course we absolutely agree that the work that engineers are doing to rebuild bridges across the motorway is vitally important. No one would dispute this.
“However, the disruption set to be caused by these closures over the next four years will have devastating impacts.
“This will include significant damage to tourism in both the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, as well as huge delays for people living in Tebay, Orton, Grayrigg, and other villages near the junction, and to local businesses in the area.
“And it will see motorway traffic being diverted through the already under-strain Kendal and Kirkby Stephen town centres.
“Building temporary slip roads would keep the junction open, reduce these enormous impacts, and allow this essential project to still go ahead.”
Mrs Dunning, chair of Westmorland Farmshop, added: “Keeping Junction 38 fully open in both directions is vital for local communities.
“This work can and must be carried out in a manner that respects and protects local people. Lack of connectivity can erode communities irreparably over such a long time.
“It is no overstatement that the welfare of these communities, and the wider economy of Cumbria, is under threat if these works go ahead without keeping Junction 38 fully open.
“Nobody is disputing that the bridges need replacing but the closure of junction 38 is going to hurt businesses, residents and farmers who use the junction as part of their everyday life. Businesses will suffer, children’s education will be disrupted by delays, and emergency services will be hampered by the delays.”
