ALONG with many Kendal residents I have been following the latest chapter in the New Road 'car-park' saga with some interest

As we all know, South Lakeland District Council has been determined to develop the common land into a green space or park area for some considerable time now, the last attempt a number of years ago being the subject of ferocious opposition from residents at that time.

I think it would be a great improvement from a visual point of view, but hear the strong economic arguments against loss of parking loud and clear.

On a personal level, despite living in Kendal all my life, I can count on one hand the number of times I have parked my car on the New Road, as it is always filled to capacity from very early on. However, as I do regularly park in the pay and display car parks I have to wonder how much more difficult this will become once 200-plus cars are displaced into them every day.

I also accept the various arguments being made by SLDC concerning the law in relation to common land and potential liabilities.

It seems SLDC is basing this latest effort to develop the area on a identifying 'grave and severe' potential dangers with the current use of the land.

Can we now also expect closure of various other SLDC-controlled car parking areas, such as the overflow car park at the leisure centre, the Parkside Road cemetery and Kendal Castle - all in a poor state and not having clearly marked areas to separate pedestrians and vehicles and also exiting onto adjacent roads.

Can we also expect SLDC to be sending out advice to other individual bodies responsible for such areas and recommending immediate closure - for instance Serpentine Woods, The Helm, Force Falls and Hawes Bridge?

I think the message is beware of unintended consequences!

It is also interesting to note that the latest push to stop car parking and develop the green area on the New Road coincides with the latest wave of what seems to be and endless attack on car travel in the town and the sometimes bizarre development of presently un-connected bits of shared footpath/cycle path.

As it is clearly noted in SLDC's proposals that cycling cannot be allowed on the new park, can we dare to predict that once car parking has ceased, and there is no longer any danger from cars entering and exiting the area, that New Road is narrowed to facilitate yet another bit of cycle path running alongside the green space?

David Armstrong

Kendal