Councillor James Airey says Victoria Bridge in Kendal should have been fully repaired in the immediate aftermath of Storm Desmond and not left with a temporary fix which has now resulted in the key route through the town being closed for safety reasons.
The councillor is demanding to know why, three and half years after receiving significant funding from the Government, permanent repairs to the Kendal bridge were not made a priority by the Labour and Lib Dem-led council.
Councillor James Airey, the Conservative group leader on Cumbria County Council, said: “The council knew three and a half years ago that Victoria Bridge in Kendal needed permanent repairs. In the immediate aftermath of Storm Desmond the council received £117.6 million from the Government for proper repairs to this and other damaged roads and bridges in the county.
“Instead, the council has sat on its hands and adopted a patch and make-do approach which has now led to the emergency closure of one of the key routes through Kendal.
“This is just the latest example and why the council now needs to take a no-holds-barred look at the way it goes about delivering infrastructure improvements in our county.”
