Kendal's K Village attracts 12,000 shoppers in first week (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal's K Village attracts 12,000 shoppers in first week

10:50am Friday 6th August 2010 in Ballots By Andy Edgeworth, Reporter

K Village attracts 12,000 shoppers in first week Buy this photo »

TRADERS at the Kendal’s K Village are delighted with their first week in the new shopping complex despite a few teething problems.

Since the store opened last Wednesday, over 12,000 shoppers have flocked to get a look at Kendal’s latest retail outlet and traders have been delighted with their first weeks takings.

However, with some work still to be completed, there were a few minor issues which affected the complex, including a leak in one of the stores and part of the car park being out of bounds.

Clothing store Lakeland Leather came out top of all its 24 stores throughout the UK in terms of sales on opening day, but also recorded good trade in its high street store.

Ron Cox, manager of the Clarks Factory Store has been amazed at the number of shoppers he has seen in the first week.

”It’s been heaving every day so far and we’ve smahed our sales targets, so it’s great,” he said.

Adrian Vincent, area manager of the Denby Factory Shop, is also pleased with the first weeks trading.

“We were in the original K Village and then we moved to the temporary site, so the anticipation was immense and we have not been disappointed with the sales,” he said.

“We have a new kitchen range out and we started with a half price sale and we’ve comfortably beaten our targets, which is great and I’m sure the rest of the stores are benefitting too.”

However, the new complex has angered some motorists due to congerstion.

Tim Bainbridge, who is a taxi driver based at Oxenholme station, believes the traffic signals near to the complex are not helping to ease congestion.

“Since it opened, drivers cannot get into town as the trafic come into Kendal from the bypass is backing up too far,” said Mr Bainbridge.

“The problem is that there is no filter lane to turn into the car park, so all you need is four or five cars at the lights waiting to get in and no local traffic can get passed.

“Now they have bus stops alongside it too. I just don’t understand why a filter lane was not considered in the original plans.”

In response, a spokesman for Kendal Riverside Ltd said: “The road system outside K Village was designed and constructed by Cumbria County Highways and includes new traffic lights installed just at the entrance to the car park on Lound Road to aid accessibility and traffic flow.

"There is also a queuing area within the K Village site on approach to the car park. The situation will be further improved upon installation of the new variable message sign - expected to be put up within a few days - which will notify car park customers if the car park is full and direct them to alternative car parks.

“As with any project of this size, we experienced a couple of minor teething problems on the first few days of opening.

"The white lining on car park level two wasn’t completely finished so access was initially limited on this floor.

"Both car park levels are now fully opened. The flat roof above the retail units produced some leaking into one store.

"This minor defect has now been sealed."