A VICTORIAN Kendal church will be converted into three homes after planners passed the proposal, despite concerns it would worsen parking problems.

Jamkah Sarnah applied to convert the unlisted and redundant Allhallows church, on Cliffe Lane, into three three-bedroom houses with no parking provision.

The lack of parking provision sparked strong feeling from nearby residents, one of whom told South Lakeland District Council planning committee of his displeasure.

Dave Willis, of Low Fellside, said tensions among local residents expressed at the community group he chaired, Fellside Forum, always boiled down to parking.

"It affects local life and it affects neighbourliness," he said, adding further strain on limited parking places might "affect the tenor of the neighbourhood".

Brian Barden, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said: "It is difficult to conceive of a use of a building of that size that will not generate parking activity."

He added parking strains would be eased when a large car park at the new Booths store, accessed from Low Fellside, opened.

Some debate revolved around the issue of whether a single home or three homes might generate more traffic but no mention was made of a residents' parking scheme in force around Low Fellside.

The church was designed by local architect Miles Thompson, who was also responsible for Kendal's Shearman House, on Allhallows Lane, which now houses a pub named after him.

Before the application was passed, Coun Gill Cranwell said: "I feel sympathy for local people who have traffic and parking problems but this building has to be used."