Traffic plagued residents have stepped up calls for a bypass.

A meeting has been called in High Harrington amid fears that a potential new housing development would further add to the problems.

Hilary Harrington, who represents the area on the town and district councils, says residents are concerned about new developments.

She says a bypass is urgently needed to cope with the extra traffic.

A survey into the health risks of car fumes to residents living alongside the A597 is also being called for.

Allerdale Council is currently consulting on its draft local plan, which identifies areas suitable for housing and business development.

In High Harrington, land at Whins Farm, off Main Road, has been earmarked by Allerdale Council for housing development.

Story Homes has already asked Allerdale for an opinion on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be needed to accompany any planning application at the site, which could accommodate up to 120 homes and a play area.

But Ms Harrington said the community needs a bypass to cope with the extra traffic, as well as a study carried out on the health consequences of car fumes along the A597.

She said: “I want people to understand what’s happening to our area and I want them to have an opportunity to have their say before any planning

application is submitted.

“We’ve already had our fair share of development over the past four or five years.

“I’ve been trying to get a bypass for years because the village simply can’t cope with the amount of traffic. There are health implications as well due to the fumes that the traffic causes.”

The councillor presented a petition for a bypass in 2014.

Ken Wright, 79, of Ruskin Close, High Harrington, backed the call.

“I’m concerned that with the possibility of an extra 300 cars trying to get out in the morning, the roundabout opposite the Galloping Horse will be gridlocked,” he said. “It’s already difficult as it is.

“If people get in and out from Scaw Road, that is a very narrow road and people have already ended up in the ditch. The project of a bypass has been put on the backburner so many times, but we do need it, especially if we are going to develop links between the harbour and Moorside.

“There will be a vast amount of materials needing to be transferred. I think people should attend these meetings because it’s important for us to understand the proposals and try to work out the implications, which may not be apparent to those who draw up these plans.”

The meeting takes place on Thursday at the Community Hall at 7pm.