DISABLED parking bays are to be moved from Market Square and Finkle Street in Kendal following approval for a scheme by the Local Committee for South Lakeland.

The unanimously-approved scheme will bring in a six-month trial where the spaces will be replaced with 'dual-use' parking bays for both loading and disabled drivers on Stricklandgate and Highgate.

The decision was made to ensure that the Market Square could be safely used by pedestrians, while offering town centre disabled parking seven-days-a-week in areas that will not be made unavailable by the placement of stalls on market days.

The committee had contacted 10 disability groups in the area for consultation, however only one replied.

Proposing the motion, councillor Peter Thornton told the committee: "This is not a trade-off between the rights of disabled parkers and the market.

"This is the way forward to give disabled drivers a better chance to be able to park in the town centre seven-days-a-week.

"At the moment if you are a disabled driver and want to visit the market, you cannot park nearby. These new disabled bays will be available on the two days a week when there are markets on."

The recommendations made were that the three existing disabled bays on Finkle Street, and the taxi parking space and four disabled bays on Market Street.

They would be replaced with a five-space dual-use bay outside Farrer's on Stricklandgate allowing parking for three hours between 11am and 4pm, which is outside of the existing loading hours.

A four-space dual-use bay with the same rules would be introduced outside Barclays bank on Highgate.

There would also be a three-space dual-use bay outside Waterstones on Stricklandgate for taxi parking.

The trial will take place for six months, and the committee will be open to public comments and will hold public consultations following the period regarding its success.

There was debate among committee members over the necessity of closing the bays on Finkle Street, as these were not in locations occupied by stalls on market day.

Officer Victoria Upton explained that as one of the reasons for moving the parking spaces from Market Street was to limit the number of vehicles in the pedestrianised area, it was in keeping with this policy to do likewise with the bays on Finkle Street.

Councillor Will Clark said: "I would like to thank Victoria for contacting the disability groups. It is a shame that not many replied; hopefully more will do so once the trial period begins.

"We have agreed on a six metre length for the disabled spaces, which is the regulation size. I do think that keeping the Finkle Street bays would be beneficial.

"I am happy to second this motion as long as we can have it in writing that there is potential for the Finkle Street bays to be brought back if the trial proves they are needed."