WORK will start next week on highway improvements at Glebe Road, Bowness, as part of a project to make some of the Lake District’s ‘honeypot’ areas more accessible by bus, bike or car.

The first phase of the work will see the creation of additional parking on the section of Glebe Road from the car park to the junction of Rectory Road, providing angled parking bays.

The new layout will enable works to take place later this year to re-locate on-street parking away from the waterfront section of Glebe Road and create improved footways, carriageways, and public spaces for visitors and residents.

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Cumbria County Council is leading on the scheme, working closely with South Lakeland District Council and the Lake District National Park.

The scheme is part of the wider Optimising Connectivity project, which is being funded by the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership. The LEP has allocated £2 million from the Local Growth Fund to deliver the Optimising Connectivity project. In addition, South Lakeland District Council is making a contribution of £225,000 towards improvements on the shore area of Glebe Road.

The improvement works at Glebe Road have been planned for some time and a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work. The project will therefore not affect the council’s ongoing flood recovery effort to repair roads and bridges damaged in the recent floods.

Cllr Keith Little, CCC's Cabinet member for highways, said: “The enhancement work at Glebe Road is part of a £2 million package of improvements designed to make it easier to access key visitor destinations along the A591. Funding for this project was secured from the Government some time ago and we’ve taken local feedback on board when finalising the improvements.

“Since the December 2015 floods, the council has been working very hard on the flood recovery work, repairing the damage to our roads and bridges, and that remains our top priority. I’m pleased the Optimising Connectivity project is going ahead as planned and a contractor has been appointed to deliver the Glebe Road scheme.”

Graham Haywood, Director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Transport connectivity is a priority within our Strategic Economic Plan, especially in facilitating road improvements and access which link tourist attractions more efficiently with the M6 corridor. Helping to ensure a vibrant rural and visitor economy goes hand in hand with infrastructure improvement projects such as this. The Glebe Road project is a positive step forward whilst we continue to invest in and lobby for extra flood recovery resources for urgent repairs."

SLDC councillor Giles Archibald, portfolio holder for economic growth, town centres and small businesses, said: “We welcome the investment in the area and are pleased to be partners with the Lake District National Park and Cumbria County Council. This project ties in well with the work we are doing to improve the beaches in the area and it is good to see all three organisations working together to improve a wonderful part of Windermere.” 

Construction of the scheme on Glebe Road is being phased to help reduce the impact on visitors and businesses. Work is being programmed to avoid the main school holidays at Easter, summer and autumn.