INVESTMENT of more than £9million has been confirmed for Workington, with the money set to be spent on improving key roads, creating a new cycle route, and building a new park cafe.

Allerdale Borough Council, working alongside Cumbria County Council and West House, formally submitted an application to the government’s Levelling Up fund in September.

Today, January 19, the government has annouced that the area will see £9.1million pounds of funding for the Workington Gateway Project, which will see the Ramsay Brow Junction realignment and road widening of Hall Brow, improving access to major employment sites such as the Port of Workington.

It will also include 'local active travel network improvements' and an 'enhanced public realm', including a new east-west cycle route through Hall Park running parallel and complimentary to the A66, as well as a new cafe and social enterprise centre and improvements to Workington Hall including 'feature lighting'.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has welcomed the funding, he said: "It is fantastic to see that the Workington Gateway Project has been funded.

"I am delighted to see that in round two we were reprioritiesd and have been successful in the bid.

"The Workington Gateway project is a key plank of my 2019 election campaign which I am proud to continure delivering on.

"It also meshes with our other projects, such as the Workington Town Deal project, to deliver the local growth and oppurtunity that we need."

Cllr Mike Johnson, leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that our bid for Workington to the Levelling Up Fund has been successful.

"This money will not only go towards improvements to key infrastructure in the town including better access to the port, but will also mean we’ll be able to realise our ambitions for Hall Park. 

“I was pleased to meet with Dehenna Davison, MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in December where I was able to stress how important this funding is to the future development of the town. 

"Of course, I’d also like to thank everyone involved in getting us to this point, and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.” 

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I’m delighted the application for funding has been successful.

"The planned 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 will support development at the Port of Workington.

"I was especially pleased to see that the proposals include 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.”