CUL-de-sac residents have taken action against plans which could see their street turned into an access road for a 189-home estate.

Dozens of people who live on Cedar Grove, Kendal, have signed a petition against proposals that they fear could turn their road into a ‘rat run’ between the town centre and a possible development on nearby Stainbank Green.

Scott Robinson lives there with his wife and two children.

“In basic terms our main issue is the use of the quiet cul-de-sac as a vehicle access point,” he said.

“What we fear is that if the road is used as secondary access it will become the main route for anybody travelling south to Asda or the hospital or the bypass, because it will be a shortcut.

“At the moment the road is a cul-de-sac so it’s fairly quiet and that’s why we moved here – we thought it would be safe, with the children. But now we’re worried it could become really busy if it’s opened up.”

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The Stainbank Green land – currently fields - was named in South Lakeland District Council’s ‘Local Plan’ which allocated areas potentially suitable for development.

The land is adjacent to the Underwood housing estate, of which Cedar Grove is part.

Mr Robinson has helped co-ordinate a campaign to persuade the council to create access points elsewhere, and has collected around 70 signatures.

“If the road is made into an access route it won’t just be us that suffer, but residents on Vicarage Drive, as that’s where drivers will cut down from here,” the 45-year-old continued.

“There’s already bad traffic down there and there’s a primary school and the college there.

“It just seems to be a really bad idea.”

A spokesman for South Lakeland District Council said officers were currently considering all matters which arose from a consultation held last month.

“As part of this the council is considering the issue of how the Stainbank Green site should be accessed,” said the spokesman.

“The council’s current evidence base stresses the primary highway access should be off Brigsteer Road, but also references the possibility of secondary access into the site from Cedar Grove.

“Details on how the site will be accessed will be determined more fully through a full transport assessment when planning applications are submitted.’’