BUSINESSES are worried about the detrimental effects of the ongoing flood recovery after it was announced that Kendal faces a busy month of road works.

Starting on Monday, a number of key routes through the town are to undergo resurfacing work, meaning temporary road closures between 6pm and 12.30am.

It was due to be carried out earlier in the year but was put back because of the floods and ensuing damage.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Cumbria County Council is investing £322,000 in the resurfacing work, which ends on July 7, on Wildman Street, Stramongate Bridge, New Road, Kirkland, Captain French Lane and Lowther Street crossroads, among other locations in Kendal.

But the fear among the business community is that the latest disruptions to Kendal will once more have a negative impact on affect the recovery from the December floods.

Jacqueline Ward, owner of Armstrong Ward in Kendal, was left almost speechless when she learned about the latest disruption to the town. “Just leave the roads alone,” she said.

“The town has had continued disruption since Storm Desmond and I think it really is time they let it get back to normal. It’s just completely ridiculous.

“They’ve just reopened the A591, which has affected everyone, and heading into the summer months we are just starting to see people come back. ‘Why now?’ is the question I would ask.”

Kendal BID manager Sarah Williams also expressed concerns at the timing of the work, with a fear visitors may be put off visiting during the peak summer months.

“We did lobby and ask if the works could be delayed a bit until after the summer or whether they (CCC) could spread them out, and the answer was obviously no.

“It’s going to have the same detrimental effect that the other closures have had. However, it’s vital they take place, so you just can’t win."

“We don’t want all these pot holes in the road, or all these road works straight after the floods. We understand why they’re going ahead with them we just want them done in a certain time frame.

“It’s just unfortunate we’ve had road closures, the floods, then more and more road closures and that’s all come within a 12-month period.

“I just hope there’s some businesses left.”

The work will be phased and it is also expected that one-way routes through Kendal will be suspended or in some cases reversed to permit certain diversions., and will be done in the evenings to ‘minimise the impact on the town’.

Cllr Keith Little, CCC cabinet member for highways, said: “We’re very aware that these roads in Kendal need attention and we were planning to do this essential maintenance works before the December floods, which have now caused further damage.

“We will need to close roads in the evenings to do the work which will cause some short term disruption, but we would ask people to bear with us and allow a small amount of extra time for their journeys.”

The works are being phased and are subject to change.

June 6/7: Wildman Street - Stramongate Bridge June 8/9: Stramongate Bridge - pedestrian crossing outside Daniel Gray Hair Salon June 13-16: Pedestrian crossing outside Daniel Gray to controlled pedestrian crossing opposite Holy Trinity and St George’s Catholic Church June 20-23: Kirkland to Peppercorn Lane Car Park June 27/28: Peppercorn Lane Car Park to Captain French Lane June 29/30: New Inn - Town Hall Cross Roads July 4/5: Captain French Lane - New Inn July 6/7: All Hallows Lane/Lowther Street Cross Roads