WORK to 'de-clutter' Kendal's historic Market Place to make it more attractive for shoppers and visitors is due to begin in just over a month's time.

The £200,000 initiative will create a public space suitable for hosting a wide range of community-focused events and markets, says South Lakeland District Council, which is leading on the project.

It will also create a more welcoming and atmospheric feel which in turn will encourage a café culture, evening economy and a 'quality' retail environment.

The work is designed to support the results of a pedestrian survey carried out in 2014 to which respondents indicated they wanted Market Place to be de-cluttered and made easier to get around. They also wanted improved seating and lighting and for it to be retained as a public open space for festivals and events. The war memorial area will be unaffected by the work.

The first phase will involve the removal of two silver birch trees at the Highgate end of Market Place which are home to roosting pied wagtails as dusk falls.

Arboricultural investigations show the trees are reaching the end of their natural life and the roots have started to damage the surrounding wall structure and paving.

A new tree will be planted as part of the scheme into an underground planted pit, ensuring it has sufficient rooting. It will be of a type that will absorb more pollution.

Once the trees are removed in mid-March, Cumbria County Council will begin installing new street lighting in Market Place. The existing lights will be replaced with two, centrally located lamp-posts in Market Place, each with four heritage-style lights, and matching single light lamp-posts on Branthwaite Brow.

Design specialists AECOM are currently working on design options to make the space more attractive for shoppers and visitors.

The overall design for the Market Place will be subject to public consultation in late February or early March and work could begin on the approved final design in May.

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SLDC’s economy portfolio holder Cllr Graham Vincent said: “We are taking great care to ensure that this project delivers an attractive, clutter-free and more accessible space but without too much disruption to shoppers, traders or bird life.

“We are mindful of trying to avoid busy market days and school holidays and we have discussed the issue of the roosting birds in the existing trees with the RSPB."