RADICAL plans to build a multi-million pound link road north of Kendal took a step closer to reality this week when councillors picked a detailed route for the venture, reports Beth Broomby.

A Northern Link road, connecting the bypass with the A6 and providing a new northern entrance to Kendal, has long been mooted by councillors and residents as a potential solution to the town's traffic woes.

Traffic experts hope the new road would slash the number of HGVs coming into the town centre, open the door to economic development to the north of Kendal, improve traffic flows and cut accidents.

This week Cumbria County Council local committee for South Lakeland set down a preferred route for the road, which is one of three major projects short-listed for development.

The route links Plumgarths roundabout to the A6 at its junction with the existing access road to Gilthwaiterigg Farm and passes through south Burneside. A mini roundabout would have to be created where the relief road crosses Burneside Road, along with new bridges over the River Kent and Sprint.

CCC contractor Capita has been asked to investigate the £10.9 million project as it gears up to chose a scheme to pursue in 2006/2011.

The Kendal Northern Link road, along with the Duddon Estuary Crossing and a Workington traffic project, has been short listed from 17 proposed schemes.

This July councillors will chose one of the three to bid for Government funding.

A Capita report showed the preferred link route would take around 9,700 vehicles each day, once completed.

The report said: "It would carry a higher volume of traffic, save more accidents, produce the greater traffic reductions in Kendal and has the better economic justification."

The report said an alternative route - connecting the Sharps Lane/A591 junction with the A6 east of Lowgroves - would have less environmental impact on the countryside and Burneside village but would be more expensive and take less traffic.

Coun Jim Bland said the committee should seize the chance to drive the link road through "fast and furious" to secure the town's economic future.

Coun Roger Bingham said Kendal people had been calling for a Northern bypass for the best part of 100 years since a young boy was killed on Correction Hill in 1921.

Coun Martyn Jowett said he was not against the plan but thought other non-road solutions such as park-and-ride and public transport had not been explored fully. He called for full public participation on the issue.

"Kendal will change signi-ficantly as a result of this decision. I believe the timing is wrong," he said.

The National Trust, which owns land at Lane Foot Farm, near the proposed route, has been consulted. This week area manager Charles Flanagan was unavailable for comment.

April 11, 2003 09:30