CONTROVERSIAL plans to scrap long-stay parking spaces in Kendal's main car park look set to be delayed for two months.

South Lakeland district councillors will be urged next week to remove 156 long-stay spaces at the Westmorland Shopping Centre multi-storey car park from April 1, rather than the end of this month as first planned.

The move prompted an outcry from out-of-town workers who accused SLDC of putting the needs of occasional visitors before those of people who work and spend money daily in Kendal, as reported in the Gazette last week.

Head of highways and public services Morris Brundrett said the council had received letters from the public about the move, although he could not give any numbers.

Councillors are due to discuss the changes at a planning and transportation committee meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Brundrett said delaying the switch to short-stay parking would allow the council to honour its contracts with permit holders who had paid £130 for 12 months of unlimited parking in the town.

"The current permits would normally expire on March 31 at the end of the financial year.

I am suggesting that members recommend any change occurs on April 1 to coincide with the financial year," he said.

The two-month delay made sense and met concerns of annual permitholders who felt it was unfair to change contract terms during the year, he added.

SLDC launched a three-week public consultation on the parking proposal last Friday, but it has come under fire from people coming into Kendal to work.

However, Mr Brundrett said the idea was prompted by concerns that all parking requirements were not being fully addressed: "We are trying to provide a better service to all sections of the community, whether they be business people, the general public, visitors, shoppers, the whole spectrum of people using car parks."