MAJOR £5 million changes to Kendal's traffic scene have been greeted by Kendal town councillors, reports Rachel Garnett.

As people around the town examine the Traffic Planning in Kendal leaflet which is being posted through 20,000 doors this month, councillors reached their own conclusions about the proposals, which aim to reduce traffic in the town centre, encourage bus use, improve safety for pedestrians and develop cycle paths.

Cumbria County Council has made a bid for more than £5 million from the Government to carry out the work.

If successful, the first stage will start in Autumn, 2001, and is likely to include:

m A bus/cycle lane on the main street between Allhallows Lane and Sandes Avenue, and a bus lane in Blackhall Road.

m Reversing the traffic flow on Lowther Street, making it one-way and widening the pavement.

m Two-way traffic flows between Station Road and Longpool to create an easy route from Shap Road to Windermere Road.

m A new park and ride at Kendal Fell quarry with access to and from the A591 bypass and frequent, cheap buses into town.

Stage Two, scheduled for 2003, is likely to see pedestrians getting greater priority in the main street, two-way traffic on Aynam Road and changes to traffic flows on Miller Bridge.

By the end of Stage Four, it is hoped to cut town centre traffic by 20 per cent.

Members of the public now have the chance to give their views on the traffic plans before they are finalised.

At Kendal Town Council, Coun Jean Ewing welcomed the £5 million investment.

She said the first two years would be "horrendous" until the changes started to work.

"No doubt in five years we will have a reduction in traffic through our town, and a reduction in pollution," she said.

Coun Dave Birkett welcomed the plans "wholeheartedly," and called for pedestrianisation as soon as possible.

Referring to last week's fuel crisis, Coun Joanna Clarke said: "I have to say on Wednesday and Thursday how much pleasanter the town was with less traffic, and how nice it was to see people walking to work and car-sharing."

Coun Graham Vincent wrote to express his concerns about the park and ride proposals.

In the long term, a roundabout has been proposed to improve access to Kendal Fell from the A591.

Coun Vincent said the construction of the roundabout should not be delayed, even if money had to be diverted from other areas, because the project would be discredited if it did not work from day one.

Residents of Greenside had been concerned that the park and ride would mean increased traffic in their neighbourhood.

However, Coun Robin Yates said more than 90 per cent of neighbours now supported the scheme.

"The benefits to our town from this package are enormous, and we should welcome that enthusiastically," he said.

Comments from the public on the consultation are expected back by October 20.

They will be evaluated and presented to the next meeting of the Kendal Traffic Steering Group.

Recommendations from this meeting will be made to CCC's South Lakeland area committee which will decide whether the scheme and any modifications to it goes ahead, depending on the Government's funding announcement which will be made in December.

Make your voice heard on the Traffic Vote - see home page of www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk.