A SIX-WEEK programme of work has started on a high street shop in Kendal as part of a major redevelopment, which will transform the town centre.

Eric Wright Ltd has taken possession of Lakeland on Stricklandgate this week, and workers have been stripping out the old shop fittings ready for new structural work and alterations to start. The revamped shop will re-open in March.

Work on the former Westmorland Gazette property is continuing as part of the venture by Maple Grove Developments part of the Eric Wright group - which will see the creation of purpose-built offices and a shop for the newspaper along with new retail units, a Booths supermarket, two parking decks - to be managed by the district council - a piazza and apartments.

All this is planned for land between the Liberal Club to Entry Lane and up to Lower Fellside.

A large section of roof over the old Gazette property has been razed to the ground and the demolition team is steadily moving closer towards Stricklandgate and into the old shop.

Trees have been felled and cleared from land behind the Gazette, and Eric Wright is now looking to knock down the newspaper's existing garages. Eric Wright's site manager Mike Thomson said the work was going to plan, with few problems.

On-line Gazette readers can view a pictorial record of the development in progress on The Westmorland Gazette web-site at www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk.

A special section has been set up in the Photo Gallery, entitled Gazette Building Site, featuring a video photo diary of the work as the newspaper's shop and offices are torn down and then rebuilt.

The images have been taken by the Westmorland Gazette's photographic team and are regularly updated to show readers what is happening behind the scenes.

February 7, 2003 10:00