LACKING transport links in Cumbria have been discussed again in the House of Commons.

The Government’s Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill passed its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday.

Levelling-Up boss Michael Gove MP has produced the bill to inform the Government’s growth plans for local democracy, infrastructure, town and country planning and regeneration.

READ MORE: Disappointment as county is missed in £1.08 billion bus service funding

Speaking in the latest Commons debate about the bill, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Borders said that Cumbria is crying out for better transport links.

Dr Hudson said: "I very much welcome the aims and missions of this bill in education, skills, health and wellbeing, transport, connectivity and closing gaps in opportunity.

"Levelling-Up is a key priority for this Government and it’s a key priority for me representing a rural constituency and I’m passionate that rural areas are looked after by the Levelling-Up agenda.

"Transport access is pivotal in Levelling-Up and unfortunately in 2014, Cumbria County Council took the decision to stop using Central Government monies to subsidise commercial bus services and that led to a reduction in services.

"Last year Cumbria received £1.5 million from the Rural Mobility Fund, this year it didn’t receive anything. I’m concerned that we have a funding system that needs to be looked at that Central Government and Local Government need to work together to produce better services.”

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Dr Hudson said that he has worked closely with Alston Moor Federation of Schools to see what needs to be done to improve their transport access.

He has heard “unfair” experiences of some students who are “disincentivised to go to the next stage of their education because of lack of transport facilities.”

"I really urge Government to put a duty on local authorities to look after people post-16 so that they can get to the next stage of their life.”  

It comes after Cumbria was snubbed from a list of 31 areas earmarked for a share of £1.08 billion transport funding.

Leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young called the decision a "kick in the teeth" when the authority was notified in April.

"We have been advised that we should bid instead to the Levelling Up Fund.

"Coming after the loss of £40 million over four years for repairing our roads, which has also been transferred into the Levelling Up Fund, it goes to show that the Government is not serious in its Levelling Up agenda as far as Cumbria is concerned.”

READ MORE: Penrith MP quizzes PM on Cumbrian bus funding

Dr Hudson quizzed the Prime Minister about Cumbria’s lack of funding at PMQs two weeks later.

And PM Boris Johnson said: "We do want to put more into buses, I believe in them passionately myself and I will make sure he has a meeting with the relevant minister."