Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to announce the outcomes of the Access For All mid-tier scheme.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have not currently sought new nominations for another round of mid-tier Access for All funding since 2020 and the successful outcomes were announced by the previous Government at the time.
We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. We are in the early stages of understanding the full implications of the Spending Review for the Access for All programme and will update stakeholders in due course.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to make funding available to complete accessibility work at Ulverston station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In May 2024, the previous government agreed the publication of a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work, which included Ulverston railway station. We are in the early stages of understanding the full implications of the Spending Review for the Access for All programme and other rail projects and will engage with stakeholders in due course.
We are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a record of all full deck replacements of s-joint bridges in England.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
National Highways have advised that the below half-joint structures are planned to have a full deck replacement: (this is assuming that the reference to a s-joint structure is similar to that of National Highways definition of half-joint structure)
A47 Great Ouse - Kings Lynn
M67 St Annes Road
M53 Upton Road
M53 Clatterbridge North
M53 Clatterbridge South
M53 Raby Hall Road
M6 Tebay
M6 Castle Howe
M6 Roundthwaite
M6 Jeffreys
M6/A685 Lawtland House Rly
M6 Borrowbeck Viaduct
M6 High Gill North
M6 High Gill South
M6 Galloper Well
A27 Pook Lane
A21 Old Cock footbridge
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the risk management plan for the M6 Lune Gorge structures project.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The M6 Lune Gorge structures project Risk Management Plan is a working document owned by National Highways. Therefore, it is not available for publication.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide additional funding for Westmorland and Furness Council to maintain cycleways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government takes the condition of local highway assets, including roads and cycleways, very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. As a local highway authority, Westmorland and Furness Council is responsible for the condition of all parts of its local highway network, including cycleways and footways.
In the current financial year, the Department has provided over £20.7 million of highway maintenance funding to Westmorland and Furness Council to enable it to maintain all parts of its local highway network. Highways maintenance funding allocations for 2025/26 will be announced shortly. Active travel capital funding allocations for local authorities in 2024/25, will also be announced in due course.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will grant an immediate emergency exemption of at least six months to allow West Coast Rail company to make a new application for a new exemption certificate.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The decisions on issuing exemptions from safety requirements, including the Railway Safety Regulations 1999, are a matter for the Office of Rail and Road, in its capacity as the independent regulator for rail safety. The Department has no powers to issue exemptions from the safety requirements itself.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will meet the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale to discuss the potential merits of repairing Rigmaden bridge.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
DfT Ministers are always happy to meet with MPs. In this financial year (2022/23), the Department is providing Cumbria County Council with over £33 million in highways maintenance funding.
As per section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, it is up to Cumbria County Council as the local highway authority to decide how best they maintain their respective local highway network, including Rigmaden bridge, based on local needs and priorities.