A SURGERY about planning issues has been praised as "a model of its kind".

Every Thursday afternoon South Lakeland District Council planning officer Barry Jackson spends a couple of hours at Kirkby Lonsdale's Institute, talking to townsfolk about planning applications.

Now, Kirkby Lonsdale Civic Society chairman Dr Alan Bray has praised the surgery as "a real boon," because people who were thinking about drawing up plans were able to discuss them first with Mr Jackson.

"He also brings local plans along so we don't have to trundle into Kendal to look at them," said Dr Bray, who described the surgery as "a model of its kind".

The surgery takes place from 2pm to 3.30 or 4pm every Thursday.