Planning blow for judo club PLANS for Kendal's state-of-the-art Judo Club have received a blow after Kendal Town Council recommended planning permission for a new club house and practice hall should be refused.

The club has secured land at Cinder Ovens on lease from SLDC where officials planned to create a Dojo and a club house.

But before South Lakeland District Council's planners decide whether to grant planning permission they must consider Kendal Town Council's own recommendations.

At a full meeting of Kendal Town Council members voted to support the town council's planning committee's recommendation that the development should not go ahead.

The council's planning committee refused to recommend the hall because of the sheet metal cladding on its walls which made it an unacceptable design.

Chairman of Kendal Town Council's planning committee, Paul Braithwaite, said: "We have to have a principle to say what is acceptable and what is not."

He added that the committee worked to ensure that buildings are "the best they can be."

He said: "If we let this go it will be it's only a little porch or only a little garage."

But Councillor Avril Dobson asked the committee to look again at the plans and not to refuse them outright saying that the club had "fought long and hard" to secure the land.

After a lively debate the councillors voted eight to 11 to refuse to recommend the plans.

Kendal Judo Club Chairman Gary Davis said: "Of course it is disappointing when something like this happens but it is part of the process."