THE owners of a South Lakes microbrewery have sparked concern among residents after applying for permission to relocate to a building next to flats.

Plans to move the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery into the centre of the town, complete with a brand new visitor centre and bar, have been met with anxiety from those who own apartments in neighbouring Royal House.

“I’m concerned about noises and smells which will come from the brew-ery,” said Joanna Castaldi, who owns and rents out one of the flats.

“But my main concern is that they want to use a forklift truck to take deliveries from the road down a cobbled path that is used by children and elderly people.

“I don’t think it’s safe.”

Her views were echoed by owner of another flat, Colin Perkin.

“Entry and exit from the apartments is a bit blind, and already poses a potential hazard, and this will be made worse, particularly with forklift trucks operating,” he said.

“There are children and elderly people living in these apartments.”

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If approved, the plans - which have been subm-itted to South Lakeland District Council - will see the company operate from around 6am four days per week, from what is currently the Auction Room, in New Road.

It will receive one deliv-ery every week, with an 18-tonne lorry delivering malt once a fortnight.

This, continued Ms Castaldi, will not be suitable on narrow New Road.

Meanwhile, a spokesm- man for Steven Abbott Associates, which submitted a planning report on behalf of Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery, said the building was currently ‘under-used’, “The Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery has proved to be successful, but wishes to expand the nature of its activity,” said the spokesman.

“It has recognised the opportunity to put back into a fuller use a buil-ding which is currently used relatively lightly.”

The expansion would also see the company’s workforce increased from one full-time and two part-time employees to four full-time and four, or five, part-time employees.

And, it says, there is ‘no likelihood at all of any adverse impact ass-ociated with smell’.

The business was set up in 2009 by local men, Plug, Roger and Stuart Taylor and Alan Stephenson.

“We fully appreciate the concerns of our local residents regarding our proposed brewery,” said Stuart Taylor.

“All the issues regarding smell, noise and use of the forklift, we feel have been addressed in the documentation that has been submitted. The new brewery, we strongly believe, will be a fantastic asset to the town for both local residents and visitors, with the added benefit of both full and part-time employment.”

The microbrewery currently operates from the Old Station Yard, on the outskirts of town.