VISITORS to Kendal town centre look set to continue enjoying a car-free Stricklandgate, reports Andrew Daniels.

A report to be considered by Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland Local Committee next Wednesday recommends that the pedestrian priority zone in the town's main street be made permanent.

Councillors will also be advised to approve the advertisement of traffic orders which would allow for five more disabled parking bays in front of the old Booths store on Highgate and three extra spaces behind the Beales department store.

The controversial trial period, which began six months ago, has come in for criticism but many users feel the scheme has benefited the town and created a friendlier environment for shopping.

The report compiled by area engineer for South Lakeland Nick Raymond says that the overall pattern of traffic flow in the town centre has shown the scheme is working effectively.

It also states that, with the exception of Queens Road, residential streets are not being used as alternatives to the sign-posted routes. Journey times through the town have also been reduced.

An air quality survey shows that levels of Nitrogen Dioxide along Stricklandgate have dropped by more than a half in the last year, although there have been slight increases in Lowther Street, where much of the traffic from the south is funnelled to create the pedestrian-priority zone.

"Whilst concerns existed about the time taken to access the town centre car parks, the pedestrian priority area was clearly supported and considered to be an improvement to the town," said Mr Raymond.

Much has been made of the trial zone's effect on local trade but Mr Raymond said it was hard to judge any effects because of a national downward trend in retail sales, coupled with the effects of out-of-town shopping and supermarkets.

However, the report does highlight three issues that need more consideration: l Access to the pedestrian priority area by Blue Badge holders during core pedestrian times.

l Perceived increase in congestion and failures of the revised traffic system.

l Reduction in economic viability of the town centre.

At next week's meeting, councillors can either approve the scheme and all it entails, at an approximate cost of £760,000, or scrap the order, at a cost in the region of £150,000.