Carlisle's MP will set out the case for a new £113m Southern Link Road when he meets with a senior cabinet minister this week.

John Stevenson has arranged to meet James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to highlight the strategic importance of the bypass.

To secure funding, Cumbria must first bid against other local authorities for a share of a £4.1 billion pot of Government money.

Mr Stevenson said the funding decision will be made jointly by Mr Brokenshire's department and the Treasury, so he is hoping to help set out the wider significance of the link road to the area.

"It will be a competitive process. There are lots of other bids, and we have to accept that," he explained.

"I'm trying to lobby the minister, to show the importance of this route to Carlisle, Cumbria and the Borderlands.

"There are other parts of the country that also have important projects, so we need to make sure we set out Carlisle's case."

Mr Stevenson will attend a formal meeting with Mr Brokenshire on Wednesday, after Parliament returns from summer recess.
Proposed route for the Carlisle Southern Relief Link Road

Cumbria County Council is preparing to submit an outline business case for the Southern Link Road as part of the bidding process.

Those behind the relief road plan say it would cut congestion in the city centre and help attract investment to the area.

It is also part of the wider St Cuthbert's Garden Village plan, to establish new residential areas to the south of the city.

Both the county council and Carlisle City Council have agreed to put in £5m of forward funding each as part of the business case.

If successful, they would pay the money out initially, to be reimbursed by developers at a later date.

A government decision on the funding bid is expected in November.

If it succeeds, the cash would come from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

An initial public consultation about the route of the Southern Link Road has already been held, showing that there is public backing for the scheme.

Two routes were put forward, an 'orange' and 'green' option, with the green route getting the majority of support.