NO police action has been taken against protestors who removed two boulders bordering the former New Road car park in Kendal.

Opponents of South Lakeland District Council’s plans to turn the riverside site into a public green space managed to move two of the large rocks despite the presence of five police officers deployed to keep the peace and security personnel.

Inspector Paul Latham, of Kendal Police, described those who had gathered on Friday night as “boisterous and loud” but the protest passed off peacefully with no arrests made.

Dozens of people answered the call for action, despite SLDC putting out a warning ahead of the protest which advised members of the public not to get involved in the removal of the rocks.

The statement said that driving any motorised vehicle on to the common land would be in breach of the by-law and the Road Traffic Act and would be a criminal offence.

One vehicle was driven onto the site and was left there over the weekend. Police have taken no action against those involved. South Lakeland District Council says it is liaising with police to investigate the alleged by-law breach, with a view to taking appropriate action and the removal of the vehicle.

Among the placard-waving protestors was Steve Hardyman.

“This land belongs to the people of the town,” he said. “This is potentially the busiest road in the town. People won’t want to come here with their kids just to look at traffic.

“This is not right for Kendal and there’s an awful lot of people who are getting behind that.”

Carole Townson, of Birchall Close, Kendal, added: “I think SLDC are not listening to anything the people of Kendal want.

“Taking away these parking spaces is a big mistake when they haven’t got the provisions to replace them. That’s why the anger is building up, because there’s been no proper answers.”

Andy Milliard, a Kendal business owner and member of a group of campaigners wanting free parking returned to New Road, said: “They had their public meeting and it was an overwhelming ‘no’ that people did not want this. I don’t see why they have gone against us.”

SLDC says the land has been closed to vehicles following a health and safety report which identified ‘grave and severe’ potential dangers with the land being used as a car park. It raised concerns about how traffic exits and rejoins New Road and the risks to pedestrians and vehicles navigating their way across it.

lMembers of Kendal Town Council heard planters and signs are to be installed on the New Road site to make the area more attractive. Members heard that £286,000 is to be spent to remove the tarmac surface and contaminated soil and re-seeding.

Councillors heard there were various partners interested in the venture including South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Enterprise and Business Partnership, Friends of the Lake District and South Lakes Action on Climate Change.