Kendal BID are “disappointed and worried” over the lack of details for planned roadworks when the town’s flood defence scheme work gets underway later this year.

The manager of the group of nearly 700 businesses, Sarah Williams, fears companies in the town will struggle to deal with any second hit on trade after the impact of the coronavirus epidemic.

The BID has stated it received different information from Cumbria County Council (CCC), South Lakeland District Council and the Environment Agency over whether there is or isn’t any traffic plan and is calling for it to be made immediately available.

“It is disappointing and worrying - I would have thought it would have been a requirement for them for planning permission to go ahead," said Mrs Williams.

“All we want to do is know the plans so we can inform and advise our businesses.

“It is important not just for current businesses but also for potential new investors or companies coming into Kendal. I know of three businesses with plans to enter the town and the last thing we want is them to get cold feet.”

The £72m flood defence scheme is in response to Storm Desmond in 2015 and is aimed at safeguarding around 400 properties.

Kendal BID’s concerns over any traffic management plan come after its chair, Brian Harrison, wrote an open letter a couple of weeks ago to South Lakeland council leader Giles Archibald. Mr Harrison made four requests including deferring the work by the authority submitting a special section 97 request to the government but this was dismissed by Mr Archibald due to the risk of a multi-million compensation claim.

“We had the floods, then this pandemic and now the upcoming work," said Mrs Williams.

"It feels like one blow after the other for local businesses and why wasn’t flood work after Storm Desmond done two or three years ago?"

A CCC spokesman said: “The essential repair works to Victoria Bridge which will take place during the summer are being carried out on our behalf by Story Contracting.

“These works will not involve any lengthy road works as all of the work is being carried out off the highway. There may be occasions when one lane needs to be temporarily closed whilst deliveries to the site are made, but these will be carried out during evenings or weekends to minimise any disruption. We are working with Story Contracting to confirm the timescales for the work and finalise any associated traffic management plans for the deliveries to site. As soon as we have more detail we will share with wider stakeholders.”