Tim Farron Presents Junction 38 Petition to Downing StreetCumbrian MP Tim Farron has taken a petition signed by thousands to Downing Street calling for changes to long-term closure plans for the M6’s Junction 38.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron delivered a petition signed by more than 5,500 residents and business owners to 10 Downing Street, urging the Government to rethink controversial plans to partially close M6 Junction 38 for major maintenance work.
The petition opposes National Highways’ proposal to close the junction southbound for 18 months and then northbound for a further 18 months as part of essential bridge replacement works near Tebay. Locals warn the closures could have “devastating impacts” on tourism in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, daily travel for residents, and trade for nearby businesses.
Speaking during the handover, Mr Farron said that while there is broad agreement the bridge repairs are necessary, the scale and length of the proposed traffic restrictions risk serious harm to local communities and the wider region’s economy. He urged ministers to consider alternatives such as temporary slip roads that could keep the junction open while allowing the works to proceed.
Among those accompanying Mr Farron were Tebay residents and business representatives, including the chair of Westmorland Farmshop and the managing director of a local engineering firm, who highlighted concerns about connectivity, emergency service access, and daily life disruptions if the junction is shut for extended periods.
Critics of the closure say that rerouting traffic through already busy town centres could strain local infrastructure and undermine the economic resilience of rural communities in Cumbria. The petition represents a growing push by residents to influence the Government’s approach to major transport projects that affect rural areas.