COUNCILLORS have vowed to ‘put up a fight’ after a brewery confirmed it planned to resubmit an application to build on the car park of a Kendal pub.

Last year Punch Partnership Limited submitted a planning application to South Lakeland District to build a Co-op on the car park of the Duke of Cumberland on Appleby Road.

The application caused anger in the community, resulting in over 400 residents registering their objections to the plans and the application subsequently being withdrawn.

Councillors Doug Rathbone and Eamonn Hennessy said they were disappointed by the news and that they were interested to see how the new application would address previous objections raised, such as the safeguarding of local businesses and the issue of additional traffic on the already busy junction.

“It’s disappointing,” said Cllr Rathbone, chair of Kendal Town Council’s planning committee. “We wait to see how they will attempt to answer the objections raised on the initial application. Particularly in regards to the dangerous junction.”

Cllr Hennessey said: “I’m disappointed to see it come back considering the level of opposition last time. I can’t see how any amended plans can overcome the issues.

“We want to see the plans first before we respond but we are going to put up a fight, as we don’t feel this is the right place for such a thing.”

Punch Partnerships believe the development will be a ‘positive addition’ to Kendal.

Operations Director Mandy Southall said: “We can confirm that Punch is intending to submit a planning application for the future development for a section of the car park to the rear of the Duke of Cumberland pub. The Duke of Cumberland remains an important part of the Punch portfolio and we are confident that the development will be a positive addition to the community.”