TRADITIONAL market towns and Lakeland villages are set to come in for close inspection as part of moves to reassess conservation boundaries in South Lakeland.

South Lakeland District Council is gearing up to carry out a major review of its conservation areas in line with statutory obligations.

The four-year scheme will see towns including Kendal, Ulverston, Kirkby Lonsdale, Grange-over-Sands, Cartmel and Beetham reassessed in the next two years.

Burton-in-Kendal, Miln-thorpe, Newland and Heversham will be looked at in the following two years.

SLDC officers will assess the special qualities of each designated area and examine the appropriateness of existing boundaries.

Coun Jos Curwen said the authority had to consider the needs of businesses operating in conservation areas and ensure they were supported when it came to meeting tougher planning constraints.

"If one person loses his or her job because of this it's not just one person that's affected it's a whole family," he said.