RESIDENTS and businesses in Kendal got the chance to voice their concerns as proposals for the pedestrianisation of town's main shopping street received a mixed reaction at a public meeting on Tuesday.

"Where will all the traffic go?", "It is a complete waste of money" and "Let's see some action and stop the talking" were just some of the comments made by those affected by the traffic changes that will see the area along Stricklandgate between Library Road and the town hall pedestrianised for a six-month trial period, which could start in February.

John Perry, of Burneside Road, said: "This is the first time I have looked at the plans and I can't see how it will work. It's going to be a mad scramble when the new Booths store opens and the traffic which is already bad on Windermere Road coming into Kendal will get worse."

Businesses fear it will drive customers away from Kendal. Barry Carr, of Carrs on Finkle Street, said the people who had devised the scheme had no regard for how retailers would be able to organise deliveries around the restrictions: "They are not bothered about how we will get our deliveries. When I was talking to the representative of CCC contractor Capita, he had no idea where Finkle Street was and I just found it unbelievable you can't discuss your concerns if they have no idea of the area you are talking about."

Paul Holdsworth, who has just moved to Kendal and works for charity Living Streets, suggested focusing on smaller improvements that would make the area more attractive to pedestrians: "It's great to see this sort of scheme but you need better conditions for pedestrians.

"There will always be resistance if people only see traffic changes and if you make things a little more pleasant for people to walk into Kendal they will leave their cars at home."

Stuart Pate, who was representing Cumbria County Council at the meeting, said the council would take on board comments made by the public: "Inevitably there are more people coming to see us with issues they want to air but there have been a number of people supporting us and ordering us to get on with it.

"There's probably nothing new in the arguments but we welcome the wealth of comments that will enable us to improve on the detail of the scheme."

Alongside the pedestrianisation, other changes will see two-way traffic on Stricklandgate from Sandes Avenue to Library Road. Entry into Stricklandgate from Windermere Road and Maude Street will be prohibited, and will involve a detour via Sandes Avenue and Beezon Road.

There will also be an 18-tonne weight restriction beyond the junction of Romney Road and Milnthorpe Road to prevent large good vehicles from using the A6 when they enter Kendal from the south.