PLANS to build a new junction off the Kendal bypass could ruin the lives of dozens of residents and expose narrow streets to heavy traffic, according to a Cumbria county councillor, reports Beth Broomby.

Dave Clarke said a new junction off the Kendal Bypass down Greenside into town was one of several ideas mooted by the Kendal Traffic Working Group.

Although the idea was still a suggestion and not a planning proposal, Coun Clarke said: "It is starting to gain credence and I want to quash it before it gets off the ground."

Cumbria County Council area support manager for South Lakeland Stuart Pate said the proposal had also been mooted by residents during a CCC consultation exercise, following changes to the town's traffic system.

He said the authority had received thousands of different responses from traders and residents but said there were no formal proposals on the table to create a junction off the bypass.

"Phase two of the traffic package requires that we look at all the options available to help the town towards pedestrianisation of the town centre. It would therefore be arrogant to discount any suggestions proposed at this stage," he said.

But local ward representative Coun Clarke said residents had been "horrified" to hear of the idea, which he described as "completely unworkable".

"It is not suitable as a main route into Kendal. Beast Banks is too steep and too narrow and has a sharp bend by the Black Swan.

"It goes against the overall aim of the Kendal traffic plan, which is to reduce the number of vehicles coming into town, not encourage them in."

Dr Dave Willis of residents' group Fellside Forum said people living in the area had been concerned to hear of the plan but Dr Willis said it would be wrong to prejudge the scheme.

"Initially people are going to be suspicious of anything that brings in more traffic but we should get the full picture before we start shouting about it."

April 11, 2003 09:30