NOTHING will be done to relieve parking problems in Kirkby Lonsdale until Booth's car park is up and running in November.

"There seems little point because we really do not know the effect that car park will have on the town," South Lakeland District Council's head of economy and development Richard Greenwood told the Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale neighbourhood forum.

However, Mr Greenwood accepted Kirkby residents had "real difficulties" finding spaces.

"Kirkby Lonsdale parking is really off-street, and that has not increased in line with some of the other towns in South Lakeland," he said.

"The car parks that exist now are very largely those that existed before, and on-street provision has decreased because of more traffic regulation orders."

He added: "When SLDC or CCC takes on police responsibility for parking we can treble the number of parking superintendents to make sure spaces turn over at a quicker rate."

Associate for Cumbria County Council highways Peter Allan said the timetable for that was "probably next September".

Mr Allan also urged residents to take part in the Kirkby Lonsdale Traffic Regulation Review 2000, which was prompted by the construction of the new Booth's supermarket, link road and alterations to parking.

A list of proposals have been posted around the town, sent to residents and businesses and published in The Westmorland Gazette.

Views and objections must be lodged by October 6.