PROGRESS to fix the A595 at Grizebeck has been welcomed - but concerns remain over whether local people are being heard, a meeting has been told.

Recently, a blue route' option was selected by the public as the preferred scheme to solve snarl-ups around the notorious rural bottleneck.

It had the support of 75 per cent of respondents to consultation and a scheme is being taken forward to help reduce journey times and improve safety.

But Cllr Matt Brereton, of Foxfield, has urged county council bosses to continue listening to local residents as the plans take shape.

The Conservative councillor for High Furness told a meeting: "It's great that we have an indicative plan in place and funding looks like it could well be forthcoming for the whole project.

"However, there are still certain people who are concerned about consultants consulting with them and not listening to local concerns, ideas or input."

Cllr Brereton said it was important that local concerns were not overtaken.

Cllr Keith Little, the cabinet member for highways, said the county council would listen to local people's views.

"If we don't, we won't achieve what we want to achieve for us or the community," said Cllr Little, the Labour councillor for Maryport South.

"We absolutely will keep listening," he said.

Cllr Stan Collins said he was pleased to see the Grizebeck project moving forward.

"We have made very good progress, a route has been chosen and we are moving forward in a number of directions," said the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Upper Kent.

He said he hoped that the Kendal Northern Development Route would be the county's next major transport scheme.

"It's needed to keep the traffic moving on the M6 when there is an accident," he said. "We have had a number of incidences in Kendal where the traffic has been backed up all the way to Shap and all the way down to Carnforth - purely because there has been a crash on the M6 and all of the traffic is diverted off the M6."