Severe traffic congestion in and around Penrith today has forced some local takeaway businesses to suspend evening delivery services, as gridlock continues to paralyse parts of the town.
One business owner told Penrith.town that the disruption has cost their small enterprise “thousands” in lost takings in a single day.
It is estimated that the almost weekly Friday traffic standstill is costing the town’s economy approximately £6.5 million annually, with additional long-term damage to the visitor economy.
Today’s disruption comes as Evolve Penrith renews its call for the Department for Transport to conduct a full traffic impact review of the M6 and A66, and to assess the wider economic consequences for Penrith.
The group has announced plans to invite the Department for Transport, National Highways, local MPs, Westmorland and Furness Council Highways, Penrith BID, Penrith Industrial BID, and major local employers and landowners to a round-table summit aimed at discussing the situation and exploring solutions.
“The traffic situation, especially on a Friday, is nothing new for Penrith, unfortunately,” a spokesperson for Evolve Penrith said.
“But it is getting worse, and the impacts are becoming much greater at a time when the town is already facing the loss of local businesses.”
The spokesperson highlighted that past proposals to tackle the problem had often stalled due to political changes at both local and national levels.
While the long-awaited A66 upgrade is sometimes seen as a potential solution, Evolve Penrith argues that little will change locally, as the section of the A66 most affected by congestion is already a dual carriageway. Current plans focus only on minor slip-road adjustments at M6 Junction 40 and an underpass at Kemplay Bank, which the group says will not add meaningful capacity for traffic that continues to grow year on year.
“We hope to bring those who can deliver a solution around the table for a frank, cards-on-the-table conversation,” the spokesperson added.
“We don’t expect a quick fix, but we want to create a catalyst for a long-term solution that will benefit Penrith, the wider region, and help rebuild the local economy.”
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