SIR, This morning I left for as usual at 8am to travel to work in Kendal, via two school drop-offs. Thirty-five minutes after arriving in Kendal (and 15 minutes late) I arrived at work.

As I and several of my colleagues can no longer park on the roadside due to the new restrictions, we are left with the option of a 15-minute plus walk into town (if we can still find a place anywhere), or a mad scramble to park in one of the few long-stay car parks were permits are usable.

I do not have a permit - by the time I am able to arrive, there aren't any spaces - so it's pointless. Indeed, a phone call to the council confirmed there are not enough spaces for all those cars that used to park along the roadside.

As I drove past several empty places, presumably as residents have departed to work for the day, I felt I simply had to write to congratulate the council on its ability to firmly place yet another nail in the coffin of Kendal's economy.

I am lucky enough to have an alternative town to work, and park in. In future, I shall buy my lunches, do my shopping, book my holidays and generally spend my money there. Bet I'm not the only one.

C. Wood

Windermere

April 17, 2003 14:00