RESIDENTS, businesses and organisations are being asked to voice their thoughts on a new southern link road in Carlisle.

The road, which will be created to support the new St Cuthbert’s Garden Village development, follows a competitive bidding process against a number of other councils to get £102m from a £112m funding scheme from the government.

The next phase of the consultation aims to inform members of the public about the changes made since the last consultation in early 2018, when the preferred ‘green route’ was chosen.

It will also provide the opportunity for locals to see the latest scheme design, and make suggestions for improvements, ahead of a planning application being submitted in the autumn.

The first of the events will be held at Carlisle Racecourse on Durdar Road next week - one on Monday between 12pm and 8pm, and another on Tuesday from 10am and 8pm.

Further public consultations will be held inside the Lanes Shopping Centre in Carlisle on June 21 from 10am to 5pm, and on June 22 between 10am and 4pm.

Feedback on the consultation, which launches today, will be open for six weeks until July 12.

The link road aims to reduce congestion within and around the city, improve travel within Carlisle, and enhance links to west Cumbria.

In addition to the new road, St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, which will be developed by Carlisle City Council, will deliver approximately 10,000 new homes and employment opportunities, bringing significant benefits to the city and the wider county.

Funding was approved for the multi-million development in February.

Cumbria county councillor, Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The Carlisle Southern Link Road and St Cuthbert’s Garden Village are both ambitious projects and I’m delighted that we convinced government of their merits and they have backed the schemes.

“The garden village and link road have the real potential to transform the city, and provide a major boost to the whole county.

“We’ve listened to the feedback from the public consultation last year which helped select the preferred route and shape the design of the scheme.

“I’d strongly encourage people to take the time to get involved, read the consultation materials and attend one of the events - it’s important that people have their say so that together we can make the scheme the best it can be.”

For more information on the project, and to have a say, visit www.cumbria.gov.uk/cslr

To see more about the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village project, visit www.stcuthbertsgv.co.uk