A FIVE year plan for Kirkby Lonsdale has got the general backing of residents despite warnings that it was going to have to be paid for by the town's council tax payers.

The parish council's vision for the town was considered at a public meeting to discuss a whole range of ideas which it is hoped will become reality by 2005.

There were some concerns about a bandstand being placed in the playing fields - Jubilee Fields being the preferred option - but on the whole there was widespread support for what was proposed.

Parish council chairman Alan Day outlined what was planned.

It included:

l Making Jubilee Fields more attractive to visitors and locals by keeping it better maintained and introducing seats and picnic tables.

l Improving the children's play area, not only for the young people but for their parents and minders.

Plans include erecting a bandstand, creating a walkway and an all-weather pitch.

l Removing obstacles to improve access for the disabled.

l Clearing sycamores from The Brow - Ruskin's View - on a biannual basis.

The meeting heard that The Brow is in need of major engineering work as cracks were beginning to appear.

l New Victorian-style street lights like those in Fairbank and The Horse Market to be erected in the conservation area and Chapel Lane, which is to be resurfaced by South Lakeland District Council.

l Make the overgrown footpath from Mill Ayre down to Devil's Bridge more accessible.

l Improve or remove gates and obstacles such as those leading into Jubilee Fields and the playing fields.

l Continuing support for a dog warden.

Mr Day warned that all the improvements were going to gave to be paid for through the parish precept.

"If the town wants to see improvements, then the town has to pay for it," he said.

"I am not suggesting that when we set the precept next month there is going to be a hike in it.

But I'm going to suggest to the council that they don't reduce it."