WHILE there's good news on the cards for public transport users, Kendal's commuters, shoppers and residents are set to endure yet more town centre traffic disruption in the New Year, after British Gas warned of a six-month programme of underground repairs.

While an important part of the road system will be sealed off for up to two weeks so the utility company can replace worn-out gas pipes, a number of restrictions and diversions are forecast for the first half of 2006.

Although the National Grid engineering work is a further set-back for frustrated drivers, passengers on the town's buses should be able to rest easy for the next few months if Cumbria county councillors vote to subsidise Stagecoach bus services until April.

As part of a £1.6 billion (£1,600,000,000) scheme to renew 15,000km of gas pipes over the next eight years, British Gas will begin its Kendal phase of the nationwide replacement work on Blackhall Road in January when traffic will be restricted for two weeks.

Highways chiefs have yet to agree on a diversion route to cope with traffic when a section of Beezon Road is then closed. The stretch of road between the junction with Wildman Street and Sandes Avenue looks set to be sealed off for up to a fortnight.

Further works include a new main being laid across Wildman Street and into Castle Street and from the Sandes Avenue/Beezon Road junction across on to Beezon Trading Estate. Drivers will face more restrictions when work from Sandes Avenue along Victoria Bridge and Stramongate Bridge into Wildman Street gets under way.

Although residents are unlikely to be affected by the work, spokesperson for British Gas, Jeanette Jackson, said businesses in the affected areas might be without gas for up to 24 hours.

"There may be some impact on trade. If that is the case, people will be notified in advance but we usually get the affected supplies back on again the same day," she said.

It was bedlam behind the wheel in 2004 when United Utilities workmen caused chaos on Kendal's Stricklandgate replacing old water pipes but British Gas said the now pedestrianised zone would not be affected.

On the buses, Cumbria county councillors have been advised to agree a contract with Stagecoach that will see the bus company continue its town centre runs until April - despite the transport provider announcing it intended to withdraw its current network of services from January 22, because of a dip in usage.

At a local committee meeting for South Lakeland on Monday, members look set to approve subsidies and a contract worth more than £31,000 to tempt Stagecoach to stay on until April and give CCC time to make arrangements for a long-term replacement service.

The company was one of three bus firms to bid for the contract.

From April, the future of the bus service will depend on the results of extensive consultations with the community and surveys carried out in the hope of getting more people to leave the car at home and boost the number of passengers.

At Monday's meeting, members will also hear a report about the proposed mini park-and-ride sites at Westmorland General Hospital and Kendal Rugby Club, aimed at reducing congestion at peak times by attracting commuters to park in car parks on the outskirts of Kendal and use bus services to complete their journey into town.

Draft designs have been produced for the two sites, but the report says: "The short lease available from the WGH due to the imminent development of the land and the trial nature of the rugby club scheme are unacceptable terms to justify the investment in developing the sites."

l The first public meeting to form a bus user group in Kendal will be held on Tuesday, December 13, at 3pm at the County Offices, Stricklandgate, and anyone unable to attend can pledge their support for the user group by calling Peter Robinson on 015395-34842.