RESIDENTS' struggles to get parked on Kendal's Greenside and Fellside look set to be eased over the coming weeks, reports Rachel Kitchen.

Residents' parking is being introduced from early May to help ease the frustration of locals who find parking spaces blocked by shoppers and commuters.

"There's been a concern that shoppers and office workers have been coming in and parking up, and residents haven't been able to park anywhere near where they live," explained Cumbria County Council's area support manager for South Lakeland, Stuart Pate.

Chairman of the Fellside Forum residents' group Dave Willis told the Gazette: "We are very much in favour of the residents' parking scheme. We are hoping it will be properly enforced.

"Hopefully it will prevent the public using the area as a convenient car park."

Locals have been consulted on the idea of a residents' parking zone, and it was given the go-ahead by councillors in January.

In the last couple of weeks, highways contractors have been busy painting yellow lines and putting up signs as CCC prepares for the residents' parking zone to come into force in early May.

Only at that stage will parking attendants start enforcing the new regulations, to give motorists a

little time to get used to the new system.

Residents will shortly receive letters inviting them to apply for their own parking disc and a visitor permit, exempting them from the new waiting restrictions.

Strickland and Fell (Kendal) county councillor Dave Clarke said residents' parking had been "talked about for years" and there had been "some frustration" at the length of time taken to get it introduced.

Given the historical nature of the area, the underlying problem of lack of parking spaces for residents would not be completely solved, he told the Gazette.

However, he added: "Hopefully it will make things a little bit easier, they won't have to compete with people using it as a cheap car park during the working day."

Coun Clarke said the fact people were prepared to park on Greenside and walk into town indicated that the concept of park-and-ride could work for Kendal.

He told the Gazette: "This residents' parking answers one part of the equation but other things need to be done in providing commuters with an alternative that is convenient for them and acceptable for local residents."

Areas where residents' parking is being introduced include East View, Captain French Lane, Brigsteer Road, Greenside, Beast Banks, Queen's Road, Serpentine Road, Ghyllside, Mount Pleasant, Low Fellside, High Tenterfell and Middle Lane.

April 11, 2003 11:01