RESIDENTS have hit out at plans to turn Kendal's K Village in to a multi-million pound shopping outlet.

The ambitious scheme, put forward by the Edinburgh-based Guinea Group, would see the shopping space demolished and completely rebuilt to accommodate 500 parking spaces, 42 units and a restaurant, generating around 300 jobs.

Fears about increased traffic, loss of river views, the design of the building and unauthorised parking in residential streets prompted residents to hold an urgent meeting on Saturday, April 27.

Around 16 residents from Lound Road, Lound Street, Garden Street and beyond turned out to air their opinions.

Residents living in properties around the factory shop criticised the plans, which they branded "absolutely horrendous."

Lound Road resident Pam Flitcroft, whose home overlooks the factory shop, said the medieval-style wall with turrets, buttresses and ventilation shafts depicted in the plans would "resemble a prison rather than a medieval castle".

"I am not opposed to it in principle but I am against it in Kendal because we do not need it.

If it goes ahead we could end up with a wonderful factory outlet and no town centre," she said.

Ian Vermeulen, of nearby Garden Road, said: "We get the worst of the deal - this horrible faade, the fumes being pumped out and they get the nice side - the trees and the river.

We are living here day after day seeing the back side of the building."

Ellie Lightburn, also of Garden Road, said developers should turn their attentions to the town centre before looking to create more shopping space.

"We have already got an awful lot of empty shops in Kendal - we do not need an extra 42.

That will increase the number of empty units in town."

Ian Flitcroft, of Lound Road, said: "The traffic we have going through here at the moment is horrendous.

Can you imagine what it would be like if this goes ahead?"

Plans for the scheme also incorporate two floors of under-cover car parking places, which residents fear could increase street pollution levels.

Lound Road resident Kath Postelthwaite said: "I want the whole town to be aware of the traffic implications.

It is not just going to affect this area.

If this must go ahead we need to do a lot of work to make the design more appealing and in keeping with the area.

If there are any architects who could help us come up with alternative ideas for the design of this building we would love to hear from them."

Guinea Group, which has lodged its plans for K Village with South Lakeland District Council, already has a number of develop-ments across the UK including outlets at Clacton-on-Sea, Loch Lomond and Aldershot.

Guinea Group managing director John Drummond said he did not take local concern lightly but regarded it as " part of the democratic, consulting process".

He added that traffic consultants had produced studies showing vehicle volumes should not cause any additional problems and added that the design of the building was a matter of individual taste.

"We came up with what we feel is an attractive and interesting design that reflects the nature of Kendal and the Lake District.

However, I would not say what we have done is fixed in stone.

We are always interested to hear public opinion," he said.

The Lound Road residents will be in the 'Bird Cage', at the top of Finkle Street today (Friday) from 10.30am.

To contact the group call Mrs Flitcroft on 01539-723027.

l Traders in the town are to be urged to have their say about the development.

Members of Kendal's Retail Forum agreed to include a note about K Village in their minutes, advising shop and other business owners to write to South Lakeland District Council if they felt strongly either way about the plans.

Forum members had concerns about the development taking away shoppers from the town centre, and the number of empty shops already in existence in Kendal.