INVESTMENT in a ‘critical’ Cumbrian road has the potential to open up business opportunities throughout South Lakeland.

Andrew Jones MP, the Conservative Party’s vice chair for business engagement, visited the J36 Rural Auction Centre to discuss how the A590 could become a thriving economic corridor.

“In this area you can see we’re in a fantastic location just off the motorway,” he told the Gazette. “A real hub for the area. But we need also to make sure people can reach this area.

“The A590 is a critical road heading out towards Barrow-in-Furness and there are pinch points around that road as it goes from single to dual track. Let’s make the case for the road, I can take that case to the transport secretary.”

Mr Jones met councillor James Airey and L&K group director John Geldard to visit businesses based on the site and hear more about how an improved infrastructure would positively impact them.

“One issue for me is people look at the Lake District and they see Windermere and the lovely properties up there and they don’t always see the magnificent businesses we have growing here,” Cllr Airey said. “And I want to talk to Andrew about how we can work closer with government to try to secure some investment in our area to improve our infrastructure because I think connectivity is vitality important.”

Mr Jones said that where transport was invested in, communities saw an opening up of commercial and residential opportunity but admitted that the UK was playing ‘catch-up’ as it had not properly invested in infrastructure over the decades.

Mr Geldard told the Gazette that connectivity was ‘critical’ because it was how businesses reached their customers.

“We’re extremely pleased that we’ve taken the time and trouble to develop the auction centre,” he said. “The progress of it has been absolutely phenomenal and it’s going to be more so because of the location.

“Businesses are very positive. They are facing the challenges that everyone else is in business but they’re extremely positive about it because they know the importance of the site - location, location, location. As a company we’ve got to keep it that way.”