PEDESTRIANS will continue to have priority in the centre of Kendal after councillors agreed to make the trial traffic scheme permanent.

However, councillors produced a list of problems which they are adamant have yet to be solved, and which they believe are vital to curing the town's traffic woes.

Councillors decided removing the experimental priority zone would be a step backwards, and asked people to remember it was just one plank in a whole raft of measures aimed at reducing traffic problems.

Coun Jim Bland said the town needed other elements in place, including park and ride and pay on exit.

"There are major problems to this scheme and we've got to resolve the problems to make this scheme work, this is only half the story," he said.

Former Kendal trader Coun Bill Wearing said indecision over the project had caused a huge amount of trouble for people coming into the town. "We need to get a strong message that Kendal is open for business and the fact is we need to look at more pedestrianisation," he said.

A report put before Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland local committee set out what has been learned over the six-month trial period.

South Lakeland area engineer Nick Raymond told the meeting on Wednesday that a large number of improvements had been provided by the scheme.

Bus services had benefited, air quality had improved on Stricklandgate, and a greater amount of traffic was going through the town's altered road network and moving faster.

Future benefits would include environmental enhancement with a number of specially-designated public spaces along Stricklandgate, and an increase in the number of parking spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Mr Raymond said a lack of enforcement on the various restrictions such as loading and unloading, and motorists turning right from the bottom of Windermere Road up Stricklandgate - was a major problem. It was imperative this was carried out to help make the scheme work effectively, he said.

Some of the most outspoken critics of the pedestrian priority zone have been Blue Badge holders and a number attended the meeting to express their concerns about not being able to access key services in the town centre.

Residents along Windermere Road also voiced their disapproval at the increase in traffic and speed of cars and lorries passing their houses.

And traders have complained of a lack of business and a significant decrease in footfall throughout the town.

CCC's head of legal services Brian Walker said despite the concerns of Blue Badge holders the scheme was lawful.

After lengthy discussions, councillors agreed to make the experimental traffic scheme permanent subject to the advertisement of a traffic order proposing additional disabled parking bays at the back of Beales and in front of the former Booths store along Highgate, together with the removal of the contraflow cycle lane in Highgate and Stricklandgate.

A much more detailed report of what enhancements will be made, along with information on a number of issues including the latest on the Kendal Northern Relief Road, park and ride, disabled access to the zone, and work travel plans for the local authorities will go before the next committee meeting in December.