A DISILLUSIONED Oxenholme motorist is on a one-woman mission to alleviate traffic congestion problems in South Lakeland.

Anita Bell, of Bleaswood Road, has started a petition in a bid to muster public support to build four new roundabouts at car congestion hotspots in Kendal town centre.

According to Mrs Bell, traffic-calming measures at the junctions of Windermere Road and Sandes Avenue, Blackhall Road and Sandes Avenue, Green Road and Windermere Road, and Parkside Road and Lound Road, are long overdue.

Her job requires her to make at least four journeys into the town centre every day.

"It is dreadfully frustrating, especially when I have got very tight schedules and deadlines to stick to as have many of my colleagues," she said.

Mrs Bell pointed to similar schemes that have been successful in the area and believes that roundabouts are the cheapest way to resolve the issue.

"The town traffic planners agreed to the roundabout at Asda, otherwise what sort of mess would we be in if it was not there. With the amount of electricity required to operate 24-hour traffic lights I am sure this is the best option," she added.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron agreed that a solution needed to be found for Kendal's traffic problems.

"I hope that Cumbria County Council will take seriously practical suggestions put forward by people who share my concerns," he said.

Cumbria County Council spokesman Gavin Capstick said roundabouts at these locations had been considered in the past but at the moment there are no plans to build them.

"High volumes of traffic require large roundabouts and there simply is not the space. Also, roundabouts would not provide the required safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the area," he said.