Villagers' fury over bypass delay

The road is a notorious accident blackspot

People near one of Cumbria's busiest trunk roads are angry work has not yet begun on a bypass.

The village of Temple Sowerby on the A66, near Penrith, is a notorious accident blackspot, and villagers have campaigned for a bypass for 30 years.

In July 2003, after a public inquiry, the Highways Agency announced that one would be built.

But work has yet to start and residents are planning a protest in an eooft to put pressure on the agency.

At present, almost 13,000 vehicles pass through the village every day - 25% of them heavy goods vehicles.

Allocating resources

Campaigners welcomed last year's announcement by the government that the £18.5m project would be given the go-ahead.

However, according to bypass campaigner, Dr Gavin Young, there is still no certainty that the scheme will go ahead.

He said "We have been put off with promises, and are fed up with waiting."

He called on the Highways Agency to liaise with central government to come up with the funding, and said villagers were planning a protest.

David Cochrane, from the Highways Agency, confirmed they were in the process of appointing a contractor and were awaiting the allocation of resources.

He added that "Temple Sowerby has never been closer to getting its bypass".