KENDAL traders have reacted furiously to new loading restrictions they say have been slipped into pedestrianisation plans.

An information leaflet released this week which sets out details for turning Stricklandgate into a pedestrian priority zone in 2005, includes reference to restricting loading and unloading to between 10am and 4pm.

The South Lakeland branch of the Federation of Small Businesses and Kendal Retailers' Forum say Cumbria County Council and its roads contractor Capita have put in the restrictions even though they were not discussed with the Kendal Traffic Action Group - a collective of councillors and traders.

"These restrictions weren't there," said George Inchmore of FSB. "They are totally unworkable. It means all the traffic going to school or work is coming in at the same time as all the loading vehicles. It will overload the system at peak times.

"We have these meetings with the Traffic Action Group, with the council officers and Capita and they have not taken any notice and carried on with their own agenda."

He further complained that there had not been any consultation with the delivery companies, as there had been in 2003 when loading restrictions throughout the town were last considered - and then rejected in the face of tough opposition from traders.

At the moment, there are loading restrictions on Stricklandgate banning loading from Monday to Friday at peak hours, between 8.15am and 9.15am, noon to 2pm, and 4pm to 6pm.

Cumbria County Council's area engineer Nick Raymond said the traffic group's views had been considered in the overall design of the scheme.

However, he said neither the Federation of Small Businesses nor the Kendal Retailers had replied to a letter from Capita which specifically asked for their opinion on the loading restrictions.

There had been support from other quarters for the restrictions, including the police, who wanted them on safety grounds, and public transport operators who were keen to avoid obstructions from delivery lorries.

"We have always stated that loading restrictions would be required to keep the traffic system flowing freely and to have a safe and attractive town centre," said Mr Raymond.

"There have to be compromises. For George Inchmore to say we are not listening to the views of traders is inaccurate - just because we didn't agree with traders doesn't mean we didn't listen. We are creating loading bays (on Stricklandgate) which will be available for disabled parking outside the loading times. We are seeking to provide for everybody."

But Kendal Retailers' Forum chairman Peter Boyd said he was "disgusted" with the conduct of CCC and Capita. He said he had "never ever received" Capita's consultation letter and challenged Mr Raymond to prove it had been sent.

Both the FSB and the retailers group are now lobbying for the restrictions to be scrapped.

A six-month trial of a pedestrian priority zone on Stricklandgate between the Town Hall and Library Road is being introduced in early 2005.