WORK to create a pedestrianised centre in the heart of Kendal will start in early February.

A number of alterations will take place from the beginning of next month to ensure the town is ready for a six-month trial of the scheme from mid-March.

Under the plan, Stricklandgate will be closed to through traffic between the Town Hall and Library, with traffic being directed down Lowther Street or Library Road.

It is hoped the changes will help to create an environmentally-friendly town centre, which gives priority to public transport and cyclists and encourages people out of their cars.

The first and largest of the changes to take place prior to the trial is the widening of Blackhall Road, which is expected to start on Monday, February 7.

The work is expected to take around three weeks and will cause some disruption to motorists.

Gas company Transco will also carry out work to the road at the same time although the bus station and Westmorland Shopping Centre car park will still be accessible.

While traffic flow along part of Stricklandgate will be restricted, permanent barriers or bollards will not be installed at either end.

Instead new signage will be placed along Highgate and Stricklandgate to advise motorists of the new restrictions and reversed traffic flow on Stricklandgate between Sandes Avenue and Library Road.

Buses, taxis and delivery vehicles will have to access Stricklandgate from the Library Road end.

A new parking bay will be marked out for Blue Badge holders in the current coach parking bay in Highgate, creating an additional seven spaces. There will also be Blue Badge spaces on Stramongate as well as those already available in South Lakeland District Council car parks.

No large-scale work to alter the streetscape will be carried out unless the trial is judged a success. If pedestrianisation is then made permanent, the extra work would be expected to take place early in 2006.

"People won't see any great physical changes except for new signing and parking bays during the six-month trial," said Nick Raymond, South Lakeland area engineer and project manager.

"It would be wrong to spend a lot of money making permanent changes while we judge whether the scheme is going to be viable, although we're confident it will be a good thing for Kendal.

"The town will not only benefit from having a pedestrian zone to encourage drivers to leave their cars behind and opt for more sustainable forms of transport, it will give the town centre an identity, which the current elongated shopping street doesn't provide.

"The only work to be carried out at this point will be a long-term benefit to traffic."

The pedestrianisation scheme will mean: l Residents and businesses with existing parking spaces will be permitted access on to Stricklandgate at all times.

l Buses and taxis will be permitted access for collection and drop-off at all times.

l Cyclists will have access at all times.

l Loading and unloading will not be permitted between 11am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am and 4pm at weekends, and blue badge holders will not be permitted access between 11am and 4pm on weekdays and 10am and 4pm at weekends.