THE increased volume of large heavy goods vehicles entering Kendal coupled with poorly restored utility company excavations are playing havoc with Kendal's roads.

In the current icy weather conditions this problem creates a serious risk for two-wheeled vehicles and cyclists trying to navigate the deep potholes that have proliferated throughout the town.

What power if any does the council have to force utility companies to carry out decent repairs after they have dug the road up and do they use these powers?

Additional traffic-related health concerns are the impact of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) and brake abrasion dust (BAD) on the health of Kendalians.

DEPs are well known to cause respiratory health problems and premature death, with children being especially at risk. Recent studies have shown that BAD has the potential to cause even more damage to our health than DEPs.

In view of this, it would be interesting to know if there is any information on DEPs and BAD in the areas around Stramongate and "Correction Hill" [Windermere Road] in Kendal, where very large twelve-wheeled goods vehicles are continually braking going down the steep hill into town and accelerating going uphill in the opposite direction.

Has South Lakeland District Council or Cumbria County Council considered the impact of this on the residents and schools in the vicinity of Correction Hill, the New Union pub and Stramongate? If so, what is being done to mitigate this public health problem?

These traffic-related problems highlight the folly of allowing large distribution centres to develop along Shap Road. Many of the goods delivered in heavy goods vehicles will simply be taken back out again in fleets of smaller vehicles, often on the routes they came in on. This creates a double whammy for Kendalians living and working in the affected areas and it should be a major consideration when any future development is planned on the flood plain to the north of the town.

Brian Woodward

Kendal