A PLAN to set up a seven-a-side, junior-level football pitch in Kendal has been hit with a number of objections.

Cumbria County Council wants to put the facility in place on land adjacent to Kendal United Football Club (KUFC) in Castle Drive.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application says the pitch would be for the use of KUFC 'as part of their commitment to offer expanded facilities for junior-level football for both girls and boys'.

The scheme is also intended to compensate for the reduction in size of a playing field that would be brought about by the extension of Sandgate School in the town.

But there has been concern expressed by residents over traffic and the loss of the green space, which is owned by South Lakeland District Council, to the public.

Rosie Nelson, who lives in Castle Drive, said roads on matchdays were already 'jam-packed with cars' leaving people 'not able to park outside or near their own house'.

"The football cars also block in other cars and don't leave room for passing cars to pull in on the busy roads," she said.

Carolyn Lancaster, of Hillswood Avenue, said: "This will be another place where it will be prohibited to walk our dogs in a safe area. 

"All areas are being prohibited and, although I understand the reasons behind it, again it is punishing the majority of responsible dog-owners."

Rebeka Coverdale, who lives in Castle Drive, said added weekend traffic would create a more dangerous environment for children on the Castle estate 'who freely use the castle, green areas, playground and shop'.

"It also concerns me that the castle remains and parkland areas are part of Kendal's natural outstanding beauty, and this will be lost with the addition of another football pitch," said Ms Coverdale.

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The new football pitch scheme ties in with a proposed extension of Sandgate School's satellite site at The Queen Katherine School in Appleby Road, Kendal.

The Sandgate project has run into difficulty over the plan to build on an area of land currently used as a playing field.

Non-departmental government body Sport England opposed the application on the grounds that no mitigation for the loss of part of the playing field had been suggested and the plans did not comply with any of the exceptions outlined in the organisation’s playing fields policy.

The county council hopes the 2,600 sq metre football pitch adjacent to KUFC would 'equate to the loss of existing playing field at Queen Katherine School'.