Councillors give thumbs-up to pedestrianisation -despite flawed' traffic proposal.

COUNCILLORS have decided to ignore the warning signs and have given backed the pedestrianisation of Kendal town centre, writes ANDREW DANIELS.

Despite voicing a number of concerns about the controversial scheme at the latest meeting of Kendal Town Council, members felt that Cumbria County Council should press ahead with the project.

"There's not a scheme yet that is perfect," said Coun Andy Shine. "It's flawed, we know it's flawed. We have looked at different bits but if you don't grab this with its flaws we are going to be left so far behind that this town will be in danger of inactivity. It's better for us to introduce a bad traffic scheme than no traffic scheme at all it's the worst reason for accepting it but we cannot exist on the current system."

Under the proposals drawn up by CCC, Stricklandgate, between Sandes Avenue and Library Road, will become two-way traffic with no entry into Stricklandgate from Windermere Road and Maude Street.

The pedestrian priority area will be from Library Road to the town hall and the direction of any traffic permitted in this area will be reversed to southbound.

One of the main concerns expressed at the meeting was where all the traffic would go once pedestrianisation is introduced because measures to reduce the number of vehicles in the town centre - such as the park and ride scheme - have not yet materialised.

Loading times were also an issue with councillors worried that some shops might find it hard to get deliveries between 4pm and 10am.

"It's harsh on entrepreneurs in town to ask them to get deliveries at those particular times so if we could relax those times by even an hour that would help a lot," said Coun David Birkett.

Coun Austen Robinson felt the six-month trial period should be used to "tweak the system in place."

In all, the council identified six concerns to put to the county council: the speed limit, displaced traffic, Windermere Road, park and ride, large vehicles and public transport.

As the Citizen went to press yesterday (Tuesday) South Lakeland residents and businesses were commenting on the pedestrianisation proposals at an exhibition staged at Kendal Town Hall.