AN AMBITIOUS plan to demolish Kendal's K Village and rebuild it on the same site has been welcomed by Kirkland traders but sparked fears of traffic problems and a loss of views among neighbours.

The £35 million scheme to treble shopping space at the popular factory outlet, and create 300 jobs, would make K Village one of the biggest buildings in the town.

The plan also proposes a 500-space car park, ending the problem of K Village shoppers crossing Lound Road from the overflow car park off Parkside Road.

However, residents of Lound Road want to know more about a "medieval wall" design including stone buttresses proposed for the elevation facing their homes.

Pam Flitcroft said she thought the outlook would be "awful", and she feared that the car park could become a night-time magnet for skateboarders or drug-taking if it was not secure.

"When I saw it I thought this is ridiculous, is it April Fool - is somebody trying to have us on?

"At worst I think it's really going to affect property prices."

She pointed to the number of existing empty shops in the town, and said she had fears about further increasing traffic in Lound Road, which was already predicted under the new Kendal traffic plan.

Her husband Ian added: "At the moment we have got a bit of a view but all we are going to see is a stone wall."

Two residents, who did not want to be named, were both concerned about the increase in traffic, and one wanted to be better consulted.

Another neighbour said she thought the development could be an improvement, especially if it prevented shoppers crossing Lound Road.

The developers, Edinburgh-based Guinea Group, have already said they hope the scheme could regenerate Kirkland through encouraging shoppers to enter and leave K Village from the town.

Ivan Trimingham, of the Union Jack caf, said he and his wife, Kath, were not convinced such an ambitious scheme would go ahead.

"I welcome it because it's obviously going to do good for Kirkland and the surrounding area, because we are under threat from the centre of town which is moving further and further away from us with Elephant Yard and the new Booths."

John Elleray, of Indigo Furnishings, thought shoppers would use free car parking at the new K Village and then walk into town.

"I think it's a good idea - I'm all for it to bring people into the town and certainly down this end of the town."

l Kendal town councillors are keen to be involved at an early stage in discussions about the plans.

Coun David Birkett said that the scheme appeared to be well advanced and said: "One would have thought it sensible that the council be in on deliberations at an early stage."

His view was echoed by Coun Austen Robinson, who said that if the council was involved at an early stage it might be able to help influence design and speed up the planning process.

It was decided that a letter be sent to the planning department of South Lakeland District Council asking that the town council be consulted on design.