TRADERS and motorists have won a number of concessions in the march towards pedestrianisation of the heart of Kendal, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Following a public consultation about the pedestrianisation of Stricklandgate, which is due to be introduced as a six-month trial between Library Road and the town hall, a number of access restrictions have been agreed.

These include: residents/businesses with existing parking spaces to be permitted access at all times; buses and taxis will be permitted access for collection/drop off at all times; cyclists to be permitted access at all times; loading/unloading will not be permitted between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday; Blue Badge holders will not be permitted access between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday; and all other vehicles will not be permitted access at any time.

The measures were agreed by members of Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland local committee. The six-month trial could start in February.

Meanwhile residents and councillors warned of the traffic misery that might be seen in parts of Kendal if pedestrianisation goes ahead without other measures.

They fear that queues of traffic will return along Highgate and Kirkland and this will force motorists to rat-run through Kirkbarrow, Gillinggate, Low Fellside and Beast Banks.

The councillors' concerns were backed by residents from Queen's Road, High Tenterfell and Gillinggate, who presented a 150-signature petition to the committee.

Resident Marilyn Smith told members that since phase one of the traffic changes were introduced in the town centre - which included reversing the traffic flow on Lowther Street and changes to Blackhall Road and Sandes Avenue rat-running had resulted in an "unacceptable number of vehicles" in their residential streets.

Commercial vehicles and HGVs used their roads, and four-wheel drive and trailer drivers made a "dreadful noise" going over the speed humps.

"Most of the residents no longer sit on their balconies or in their gardens or even have their windows open because of the incessant noise," she said.

Couns Martyn Jowett and Dave Clarke, whose wards include the affected areas, said that pedestrianisation should not go ahead until there was a planned programme of works to help the residents.

Committee chairman Oliver Pearson told Mrs Smith that he accepted there could be a growth in traffic on Queen's Road if no other actions were taken.

He said a number of measures were already being taken to reduce rat-running including: signing at the entry points to the town; revised car park signing and variable message signs for key car parks; improved public transport once pedestrianisation started; and a possible lorry ban on Queen's Road.

In the future, park-and-ride should be introduced, he added.