More details have been revealed of how Cumbria’s share of a multi-million-pound Government fund to fast-track walking and cycling schemes would be spent.

Cumbria County Council has been allocated up to £1.167million from the Government’s £225million Emergency Active Travel Fund and must provide plans to the Department for Transport to secure the funding. The first chunk of funding would be £233,000, with another £934,000 available later this year.

Keith Little, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The main purpose of the first tranche of funding is to promote cycling and walking as a replacement for journeys previously made by public transport.

"We have worked with representatives in each of our six districts to prioritise the schemes which will achieve the greatest impact at this current time.”

A gateway for buses and cyclists would be created in Carlisle on English Street between The Crescent and Devonshire Street to provide a central cycle hub.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson said the proposals would “improve what we already have”.

Workington would see bike boxes to create space for cyclists at traffic lights on Washington Street, the crossroads between Harrington Road and Annie Pit Lane, and Oxford Street. Barriers would create a cycle way on Central Way while in Stainburn Road cycle lanes would be marked.

Cockermouth’s Market Place would be closed to through traffic and Station Street would see barriers create a cycle way, with the footpath to be temporarily widened to help social distancing. Bike boxes would also be created at the Lorton Street junction and Gallowbarrow.

The approach to Netherhall Corner in Maryport would see bike boxes installed.

Bike boxes would also be created at crossroads at Main Street and Penrith Road in Keswick, with a pedestrian and cycle footpath to be created near Thirlmere and priority give way signs put in place on Western Road at Derwentwater.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson welcomed the proposals and said they would play an important part in helping social distancing and the “new normal” as the county adapts during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “I  welcome the proposals and I understand there are some discussions around the efficacy of some of them and there are others that are a bit more contentious.

“Even when we do move on and we’ve got a vaccine, anything that encourages people to walk and cycle more can’t be a bad thing.”

Swingpump Lane in Whitehaven would be made one-way from the junction with Rosemary Lane to the East Strand junction. The other lane on the street would be turned into a cycle way.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “Anything which enables better cycling and walking is a good thing, however we need a much more ambitious approach across Copeland.”

In Penrith, through traffic would be stopped from Middlegate, Market Square, Kings Street and Victoria Road from Old London Road to Kilgour Street, with access maintained for deliveries and service buses.