POLITICIANS have reacted to a ‘regrettable’ decision by National Highways to scrap vital improvement works on the A66 at the Brigham and Broughton roundabout.

National Highways have said this week that following a business case review on the project the scheme would not be pursued in the future.

But politicians on all sides have expressed regret at the decision, with Workington MP Mark Jenkinson saying it is ‘impossible to put a price on human life’.

Mark Jenkinson MP, who has been campaigning for many years for junction improvements at Brigham and Broughton, said: “Regrettably, National Highways has concluded that the project does not, at present, represent ‘value for money’ using their rather rigid funding formula.

“I have always been clear that this project is about improving resilience and safety at an accident blackspot – and that it is impossible to put a price on a human life.

“National Highways has made it clear in their response to me that the failure to deliver the nearby Derwent Forest (RNAD Broughton Moor) site has dealt a damaging blow to this key infrastructure project."

Plans for 71 new homes on the former arms depot site were rejected by planners in March 2022.

Mr Jenkinson said he has written to the leader of the new Cumberland Council urging him to move quickly to get the Derwent Forest project ‘back on track’.

Mr Jenkinson said: “These vital junction improvements are not dead in the water – and would gain renewed impetus if progress was made on the Derwent Forest site, particularly if the access road in the vicinity of the Brigham/Broughton junction as proposed.”

Campaigners in Brigham and Broughton have campaigned for over two decades for changes on the roundabout, which has became known in the area as an accident blackspot, with a number of accidents - including fatalities - happening at the ‘dangerous’ junction.

Cumberland Councillor for Cockermouth South, Andy Semple said: “The Highways agency who have made the decision have used a city model, everyone can accept that road is not busy 24/7, but it’s when families want to get their kids to school, or to go shopping, that road is just so dangerous.

"For the people in Brigham it’s a stressful thing.

“It’s a disgraceful decision and completely goes against people who live in rural areas.”

A spokesman for National Highways said, “Following a review of the business case for the project we are unable to proceed with the proposals for a roundabout as hoped and we are unlikely to be able to bring a scheme forward for the foreseeable future.

“We have recently written to local MP Mark Jenkinson setting out the reasons why we are unable to proceed with this improvement at this time.

"Needless to say, as with all our roads, we will continue to monitor the performance of the A66 between Workington and Cockermouth.”