A PLAN to slash the price of tickets and get passengers back on buses is being lined up as the latest weapon to try to end the misery of Kendal's traffic congestion.

As preparations for the town's long-awaited pedestrian priority' scheme got under way this week, the cut-price bus ticket deal was being put forward as one of a number of measures that would work hand-in-hand with the new roads scheme.

A leading councillor also called for people to support pedestrianisation, calling it one of the most important things to happen to Kendal in years and warning that, without it, the town could eventually grind to a halt.

The pedestrianisation project, due to be launched on Sunday, March 20, will see pedestrians given the priority on a stretch of Stricklandgate between the town hall and Library Road.

Although the £221,000 trial will be assessed after six months, work to make it permanent, or to return the road system to its current layout, would be delayed until after the busy Christmas trading period.

Not all traffic will be banished from the street, which will have a reverse flow going southwards: buses and taxis will be able to pick up and drop off passengers; disabled drivers holding a blue badge, and loading and unloading, will be permitted, although only during restricted times; cyclists will have access at all times; and access will be allowed for residents and businesses.

This week, traffic chiefs revealed they were in discussions with bus company Stagecoach North West to introduce a six-month subsidised bus fare scheme.

Cumbria County Council has £60,000 set aside to improve public transport in South Lakeland and up to £50,000 could be used for the bus deal.

Although still in the planning stages, county traffic chiefs have an aspiration to slash prices, so, for example, a £1.70 adult return fare from Oxenholme to Kendal could cost £1.

If passengers can be lured back on to buses, then it is hoped the company could bring down the regular price of fares at the end of the subsidy period.

Stagecoach's commercial director Chris Bowles said that phase one of Kendal's traffic scheme when a number of changes were made to the road layout had forced the company to alter some routes and led to a decline in passengers. Mr Bowles said there were 14 per cent fewer passengers on town centre buses now than in 2002.

"There's no doubt in our minds at all that phase one of the traffic management measures in Kendal contributed to a significant loss of patronage of local buses in Kendal and it's put them at risk."

Mr Bowles said the pedestrianisation would not solve the problems on all routes, but that the subsidy experiment was something the company was willing to try.

"I would not go as far as use it or lose it at the moment, but current trends are of concern to us and the county council, which is already having to subsidise a portion of the service."

The county council is also seeking land where it could provide "mini" park and ride sites.

While there is no money available at present to develop a "strategic" large park and ride site, which could be located off Underbarrow Road, two smaller sites, at Kendal Rugby Club on Shap Road, and next to Westmorland General Hospital on Burton Road, are being considered.

Each could take between 150 and 200 cars, although it is not expected they would be ready for March 20. Bosses at Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust and the rugby club confirmed they had been approached about the plan, but stressed discussions were at an early stage and deals had not been reached.

Meanwhile, the chairman of CCC's local committee for South Lakeland, Oliver Pearson, asked everyone to get behind the experiment.

"I would ask people to support it and, fair enough, criticise if they wish, but that's something we can then build on.

"Doing nothing is not an option all projections show that with the increased traffic levels we are likely to get, Kendal would become almost totally grid-locked.

"It probably is one of the most important things to happen to Kendal in many years."

The work this week to widen Blackhall Road, which is due to continue next week, was criticised by Fred Durnall, of Stainton's Garage in Fleece Inn Yard, who said it had taken a driver two hours to get from Mintsfeet to the garage.

CCC area engineer Nick Raymond said that measures had been taken to reduce the congestion, which he said had eased. After next week, work will switch to Stricklandgate for four weeks, beginning at the town hall. At least one lane will be open at all times.