Plans have been revealed to transform a key gateway into Kendal Town Centre, to make it more pedestrian-friendly and to improve the overall shopping experience.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), is leading the project to transform the upper section of Stramongate where it meets Blackhall Road.

Plans include a new raised footpath across the mouth of the junction using natural stone sets and flagstones, increasing the accessible area for pedestrians, with entrance and exit ramps providing vehicular access across the space.

Trees will also be planted along the street, with the aim of improving the aesthetics and reducing traffic noise and air pollution from Blackhall Road.

SLDC, along with project partners Kendal Futures’ Kendal Vision, is seeking views from residents and businesses on the proposed materials used in this scheme and their potential use in the future in other projects.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of SLDC, said: "Upper Stramongate is an important shopping street that also houses a weekly market.

"It is a busy pedestrian link between the town centre and amenities such as the railway station, the bus station, Kendal Museum and Kendal College Arts & Media Campus – with the number of pedestrians and cyclists in this area due to increase with the opening of the new Gooseholme bridge in the summer.

"I am delighted to see this project take shape with our partners Kendal Futures and Cumbria County Council and excited to see how it will improve the quality of the public space, the business environment, and to increase people's access and enjoyment of Kendal.

"These public realm improvements will benefit businesses, residents and visitors, but more importantly are just the beginning in developing partners' shared placemaking vision for the future of the town centre.

"Additional funding streams continue to be investigated to add to our initial investment and drive meaningful, positive and long-lasting development in the town centre."

The work will be funded by developer contributions received by SLDC from the Sainsbury’s supermarket development in Kendal, which aims to use the money to improve the northern approaches to Kendal Town Centre to mitigate the impact of the development on the town's infrastructure.

Residents and businesses can have their say via the online engagement link at  https://cumbria.citizenspace.com/south-lakeland-district-council/upper-stramongate-improvements/ until midnight on Sunday, March 27.