A NEW community road safety campaign group has been launched in a South Lakeland village plagued with traffic problems.

Furness MP John Woodcock has joined forces with Grizebeck residents to launch the campaign group which is focusing on the need for improvements where the meandering A595 connects with the 60mph A5092.

Villagers told Mr Woodcock of their fears when he stopped there during his annual cycling tour of the constituency in August.

And on Saturday morning around 30 residents joined the MP for the first #TeamFurness Grizebeck Road Safety meeting to co-ordinate the push for improvements.

“We are delighted that our long-running campaign for improvements to the A595 bottleneck at Dove Ford has produced a massive result with the government signalling a bypass can finally be constructed," said Mr Woodcock. “But locals have also been living cheek-by-jowl with the constant danger of vehicles speeding through Grizebeck, particularly where the A595 meets the A5092.

"There have been 47 collisions here in the past 19 years including three fatalities.”

Campaigners are writing to Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young asking for the authority to undertake a comprehensive safety analysis of the roads in the village – with particular reference to the carriageway by the bus stop which is used by schoolchildren.

“We believe that this analysis is well overdue and even more important now that changes to the A595 at Dove Ford are in the pipeline," said Mr Woodcock. "We look forward to working with the council to ensure the safety of residents and road users alike.”

Campaigners are in the process of collecting signatures in support of improvements which will be sent to the authority in Carlisle.