A NOTORIOUS bottleneck on a major road up the Cumbrian coast is to be left out of the first wave of improvements which will see much of the arterial route overhauled.

While some parts of the A595 will see major improvements in the near future, the narrow pinch-point at Dove Ford Farm, near Kirkby-in-Furness, will go neglected. Sections of the road at Great Clifton and close to Cockermouth will have £2.6m spent on them.

The decision has sparked anger from road campaigners and users, who have to negotiate the bottleneck on a daily basis.

Robin Cornah, Secretary of the A595 Action Group, said: "We regard the Grizebeck/Dove Ford pinch point as the worst in the county and to exclude it from forthcoming announcements would be unthinkable and would defy all logic.

"The announcement of the funding of only two schemes recently at Great Clifton and Cockermouth was disappointing, though the transport secretary advised that this is the start of a whole series of improvements.

"The A595 Action Group regards the urgent need is to start work now on the highest priority problems so that our infrastructure is ready for the huge developments planned in Furness and Copeland.

"The major 'West of M6 Strategic Connectivity Study' in 2016 identified the need for a Grizebeck/Dove Ford bypass as one of the top 30 priority needs."

Ahead of the Copeland by election, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling visited the area to see the issues raised by residents first-hand.

It was during this visit that Mr Grayling announced that improvements to the area's infrastructure would be made.

Furness MP John Woodcock has also been a vocal supporter of getting work done at Dove Ford.

"The transport secretary arrived in the county during the Copeland by-election and made a pledge that A595 upgrading works would be unveiled within weeks," he said. "That raised the hopes of many people around Grizebeck and Kirkby, since the Dove Ford pinch point is widely regarded as the worst stretch of the entire route.

"The accidents, near misses, logjams and tailbacks that occur at this point result from modern traffic trying to negotiate a section of highway that was built for the horse and cart.

"This government decision is a snub to village residents, campaigners and motorists who will be feeling badly let down."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are committed to improving journeys for motorists in Cumbria and across the country, making them faster and more reliable for everyone.

“Highways England have said the upgrade to sections of the A595 will benefit road users and offer good value for tax payers’ money. The scheme was chosen because it can be delivered quickly, will reduce journey times and ease congestion.”