KENDAL could soon benefit from more than one-million-pounds-worth of new money for cycling and walking schemes in Cumbria.

Temporary measures aimed at facilitating social distancing are set to be implemented in Kendal as well as other Cumbrian towns over the coming weeks.

The measures form part of plans to improve social distancing in towns across Cumbria, as the easing of lockdown restrictions entered a new phase this week.

County councillors refused to disclose the amount of money earmarked specifically for Kendal. However, it was confirmed that two separate funding instalments would be made available to the council this year.

The first allocation of funds is aimed at bringing in temporary measures, such as painted road signs and the temporary closure of specific stretches of roads in Kendal.

The second tranche, a considerably larger sum of around £900,000, is expected to be available in around three months’ time.

On Friday, the county council is expected to put forward proposals concerning what will be done with the first tranche of government funding.

A committee for South Lakeland will decide how the money is to be spent once the Department for Transport has reviewed the county council’s plans.

Cllr Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport at the county council, told The Gazette: “We’re looking at a number of proposals for towns across the county currently.

“We have to be very careful with some of the plans, since closing roads is very difficult. Heavy goods vehicles, among a number of others, still need to be able to move smoothly in and out of towns in the county.

“We’ve also looked at putting 20mph signs in place. We’ve also been hearing from local mobility and disability groups about this.

“And we’ve looked at routes for school children to be able to walk to school without having to get a lift from parents, since schools are beginning to reopen this month.”

Cllr Little confirmed some of the permanent measures are to be implemented ‘with an eye on climate change’ to ‘help reduce congestion and improve air quality in Cumbria’.

“There are already 500 miles of cycle routes across the county - and 50 miles within those 500 miles that are car-free,” he said.

Environmental groups in south Cumbria have spent the past few days lobbying local authority representatives to ensure as much of the £1.1 million as possible goes towards green projects.

Among these are pedestrianisation schemes and the creation of traffic-free zones in various towns.

For instance, Clean Air for Ulverston, supported by Furness' Extinction Rebellion branch, have tied their lobbying into a recent traffic reduction campaign for the town.  

They say banning cars from Ulverston town centre would bring back an improvement in air quality similar to that seen during the lockdown period.

"Studies show making streets traffic increases footfall by up to 40 per cent," a spokesperson said.

"Some people think that we can support traders by encouraging cars to come into the town centre, but that goes against encouraging walking and cycling, not only our aim but now the government's.

"Cheap car parking surely can't compensate for the pressure of out-of-town stores and online shopping, which is only likely to increase.

"The most resourceful businesses may thrive by delivering to customers, as many have been doing.

"But any case, we think health should come first and we need to take lessons from the lockdown to stand any chance of limiting the worst effects of climate change.

"Don't give the streets back to cars."