TWO of Cumbria's major A-roads are to be detrunked despite strong local opposition.

Following a public inquiry in May, a Government Inspector has given the go ahead to de-trunk the A5092 between Greenodd and Grizebeck and the A595 between Grizebeck and Calder Bridge.

It means responsibility for maintaining and improving the routes passes from the Department of Transport to Cumbria County Council.

Parish councils along the routes and CCC had battled to stop detrunking. CCC argued that it would not get enough funding to look after the roads which are the key routes into the west of Cumbria and to the Sellafield nuclear plant.

A DoT statement said: "There has been no intention to add to the burden on the local economy by transferring the management of these roads to local authorities without appropriate funding.

"A method for calculating the appropriate transfer of funds to the local authority taking over responsibility for these roads has been agreed with the Local Government Association."

He added that Government policy meant decisions on road improvement schemes would be taken in a regional context, meaning that the status of the road, trunk road or otherwise, would not affect the availability of funds.

Jack Richardson, CCC's portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: "The county council objected to de-trunking it's a shame the Secretary of State has chosen to ignore the local knowledge and expertise about what is best for the area. We are very disappointed."