Ancient Kendal lane restored after 28 years of persistence

Garth Heads, which runs between Beast Banks and Captain French Lane, has been completely resurfaced, and attractive new LED lantern-style lights have replaced the 'ugly' concrete standards that once relieved the gloom.

Civic society secretary Patricia Hovey says she is delighted that the 'total lack of progress report' kept since 1988 on failed projects to 'rescue' Garth Heads can finally be closed.

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The society wants to publicly thank everyone who made the project possible, especially Cumbria County Council's highways engineers and contractors; Cllr Geoff Cook for his support; and the 'patient' residents of Garth Heads.

Concerns about the state of Garth Heads grew in the 1980s, said Mrs Hovey, when the lane had a rough, muddy surface, collapsing walls, unsafe steps, rank weeds and rotten trees. Unlit along its length, it was "a very spooky place after dark".

Kendal Civic Society became anxious that the lane would become impassible, so efforts to restore it began in earnest. The society did manage to get lighting installed but further schemes failed for lack of finance or interest.

Garth Heads lies on a geological fault line, explained Mrs Hovey, and is an unclassified highway - the U752 - making it the responsibility of CCC.

Small improvements were made over the years to repair walls and cut back vegetation, but Kendal Civic Society members were "about to despair" at the lack of major results when CCC decided in 2013 to set aside the funding to restore the entire lane.

"We are delighted that after so many years of quiet persistence, we have achieved our aim and we feel proud that Garth Heads is now a lovely place to walk along," explained Mrs Hovey.

The society is now urging Kendalians to see the lane for themselves, ideally at dusk when bats flit about, Kendal Castle looms above and the lights of Kendal are coming on below, when it is "almost possible to feel all the centuries of Kendal's history".