This afternoon, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron joined residents and business owners from Tebay in handing over a petition to Number 10 Downing Street, calling for changes to controversial plans to partially close Junction 38 of the M6 for four years.
Tim 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.
The petition had been signed by more than 5,500 people.
Speaking afterwards, Tim 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.”
Sarah Dunning Chair of Westmorland Farmshop said: "Keeping Junction 38 fully open in both directions is vital for local communities. These works 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."
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