A COUNCIL crackdown is being lined up to cut “inappropriate” parking in Kirkby Stephen.

It follows complaints raised by Cumbria Police, Kirkby Stephen Town Council and county councillors about poor parking obstructing various streets.

A county council report said motorists are leaving their cars on junctions or across the access to people’s properties.

Some large vehicles have struggled to get past certain points on the A685 – including South Road and North Road – the main artery through the town.

Highways bosses have recommended new restrictions for the western and eastern sides of South Road.

A report said the measures on South Road are aimed at improving traffic flows by providing passing places large enough for HGVs, coaches and multiple smaller vehicles.

No waiting restrictions would be introduced on parts of South Road, Station Road, Nateby Road, Westgarth Road and Westgarth Avenue.

The restrictions would also be brought in on parts of Hobsons Lane and Redmayne Road.

A parking bay on North Road will also be reduced from allowing a two-hour wait to just a 30-minute wait.

County council highways officials said a three-week consultation was carried out and three representations were made.

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There was only one objection from a resident who said they had lived in the town since May 1963.

They suggested a bypass was needed and numerous councils had wasted money with short term solutions.

They wrote: “Some estimates are that traffic will increase by 60 per cent by 2050. The population is increasing, large scale housing is planned for Eden and those who seek to benefit from tourism try to encourage more visitors to the area.”

Cllr Phil Dew, the Conservative county councillor for the town, told the meeting of Eden Local Committee on Monday: “We are trying to make the best of the situation. It’s not perfect but highways officers have done the best they can, given the situation.”