A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project consultation ends Saturday

The consultation period for the plans to dual the A66 ends at 11.59 pm on Saturday 6 November. Personally I have been impressed at the attempts which are being made to reach the best compromise between the various interest groups and environmental considerations. 
Walking cycling and horse riding provision (WCH) is given quite a bit of attention. Two areas of concern about the provision for cyclists at the western end of the route have been identified (you may find more):

1. There is no provision for WCH between Countess Pillar and the Center Parcs junction. Both employees and visitors would surely benefit from a direct link to Penrith which has the capacity to reduce more polluting means of transport (from the new Center Parcs junction travelling east, a network of minor roads and the decommissioned A66 will form a good route through to Appleby)
2. There is no provision for WCH between cafe 66 and the Sandford junction. This is just a 2 mile stretch of road. The only safe cycling alternative is via Appleby, Burrells and Warcop - some 11.4 miles which is too far for a regular commute for most people. Including a 2 mile cycle track alongside the new road would open up the possibility of green transport routes from Sandford, Warcop and the nearby hamlets to Appleby or Brough.

If you wish to make your own representations this can be done online by completing the feedback form accessible at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A66-NTP, click on the link to 'Have your say' and scroll down to 'complete online response form'.

I am a believer in the power of written representations.

Alison