Border A590

The Transport Minister Stephen Hammond MP will personally visit accident black spots on the A590.

Local MP Tim Farron will take the minister along the route.

Afterwards Mr Hammond will meet with local campaigners whose strong opposition to plans to build a roundabout being scrapped led to the Government announcing £500,000 to be made available to improving the route.

Carlisle Crown Court has heard that a cyclist was killed because a car driver simply failed to see him as he rode to work on a Cumbrian dual carriageway.

51 year old Geoff Davis died after he was hit by a car coming out of a sliproad onto the A590 at Levens near Kendal in November last year.

Mr Davis was a well known outdoor enthusiast and Evangelical church elder who lived in Windermere Road, Kendal.

The car driver 56-year-old David Dixon - pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to causing his death by careless driving.

Dixon, of Longlands Lane, Heysham, was remanded on bail for background reports and will be sentenced on September 13.

During the hearing the court heard how there was no suggestion that Dixon had been driving too fast.

Prosecuting counsel Arthur Gibson said:

"This is a case, quite simply, where the unfortunate victim was riding his bicycle properly, the bicycle was properly lit and he was wearing appropriate clothing,

"He was there to be seen - but Mr Dixon, for whatever reason, didn't see him."

Judge Peter Hughes QC praised all those involved in the case for their "responsible and realistic attitude".

He said: "These are always tragic and very difficult cases indeed and I am grateful to everybody for not adding to the distress."

Tim Farron MP has spoken to our correspondent Gerry Foley about the fact the Roads Minister has pledged to back plans to introduce a roundabout at a South Lakes accident blackspot.

He said while this hurdle has been cleared momentum needs to be kept up.

Road safety campaigners are celebrating a major win after Roads Minister Mike Penning has pledged his support for a roundabout to be built at Greenodd junction on the A590.

In a reversal of the announcement made by the Highways Agency last week to scrap the plans, the Minister today said that subject to judicial process, the project will go forward as a committed scheme for 2013/14 and pledged £500,000 for the scheme to be drawn up.

A590 campaigners are celebrating a major win after Roads Minister Mike Penning today pledged his support for a roundabout to be built at Greenodd junction on the A590.

In a reversal of the announcement made by the Highways Agency to scrap the plans, the Minister today said that subject to judicial process, the project will go forward as a committed scheme for 2013/14 and pledged £500,000 for the scheme to be drawn up.

The change of heart follows a meeting today between MPs, local councillors and residents, who have consistently campaigned for the roundabout at Greenodd junction as part of a series of measures to improve safety on the A590.

The Minister said he recognised the safety imperative of the proposals given the increasing pressures of residential, business and tourist traffic in the area. The half a million pounds pledged today represents roughly a quarter of the total £2.15 million expected cost of the project.

Mr Penning also said that he would visit the county in August.

Commenting, Tim Farron MP said: “I’m delighted at this result and I want to thank Mike Penning for giving the roundabout at Greenodd his personal support.

"The large roundabout proposal is the only option that will ensure the safety improvements so essential at this crash-prone junction. The decision today to pledge half a million pounds to the project is fantastic news."

A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a crash in south Cumbria last night.

The biker collided with a car whilst travelling towards Kendal on the A590 near Ulverston at just after 8pm.

The 48-year-old man was taken to Furness General Hospital suffering from injuries to his head, arm, leg and pelvis. The driver of the car was uninjured.

Any witnesses are being asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101.