THERE are not many of us who would be happy with a price rise of 500 or 600 per cent in one go.

So it is not surprising that plans to scrap long-stay spaces in Kendal's main car park have been greeted with furore by many of the motorists who use them.

For them to continue using their favourite, familiar, convenient and safe parking spots would mean them having to pay many times what they are used to.

Nor are the alternatives very attractive.

The council, which controls the car park, argues that it wants to push workers into peripheral car parks, as they are familiar with the town, and could find their way in to their place of employment.

Shoppers may be strangers and need the prime town centre spots, it is argued.

Although it is true that Kendal needs to do as much as it can to encourage trade, there are several problems with this line of thinking.

First, fringe parking places can be unfriendly and are reducing rapidly in number.

Residents' permits schemes mean casual parkers only have a short time to conduct their business and the spaces are therefore useless to workers.

There are threats to occasional spaces such as those in New Road.

Besides, the walks involved can be inconvenient at best and, at worst, feel threatening.

Second, people do not conveniently divide up into shoppers and workers.

The very traders who want more casual visitors are also workers, many of whom need to park.

Workers shop, too.

Indeed, those who are enticed into Kendal for the day to work are likely to be the most consistent users of the local shops and cafes.

There was many a town centre worker who spent lunch and coffee breaks before Christmas stocking up on presents, and afterwards at the sales.

Third, the reasons for coming into town can be many and varied.

Business, both paid and voluntary, can involve needing car parking for many hours.

But the main obstacle to persuading workers, volunteers and others not to take up parking spaces, or better still to leave their vehicles at home, is that the authorities insist on putting the cart before the horse.

While public transport is so abysmal in South Lakeland, then we will all continue to rely on the motor car, and that includes finding places in which to park them.

If the council wants to deter workers from using spaces near shops, then viable alternatives need to be provided first.

So provide regular, reliable buses and ample car parking before penalising parkers.

Anything else fuels the feeling that motorists are not wanted, whether workers or shoppers.

Kendal relies on people coming into town to fill the jobs and spend their money.

Obstacles should not be put in their way.

By Mike Glover, Westmorland Gazette Editor