Some independent shops in Kendal town centre will "inevitably" go out of business if K Village gets a proposed £50 million revamp, Cumbria's top business representative has warned.

Viv Dodd, chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the majority of independent traders would suffer if a new look K Village opens its doors in the town.

But only those strong enough to keep afloat in the wake of the proposed redevelopment will survive and ultimately benefit from the extra footfall it is expected to bring to Kendal, he said.

Mr Dodd, who said he was acutely aware of the recent poor fortunes for many retailers in Kendal, in particular independent shops, said the remainder would unfortunately fall by the wayside.

"It's very sad when some (independent businesses) fold but we have to accept that we are in the 21st century and the majority of shoppers and visitors expect to see this type of premises like K Village," he said.

"There was a similar situation with The Lanes Shopping Centre, in Carlisle, but there were less independent traders there compared to Kendal."

Mr Dodd also called on South Lakeland District Council to do more to ensure independent traders stayed in business because of their "important" role as part of the fabric of Kendal's retail sector.

Area support manager for South Lakeland at Cumbria County Council, Stuart Pate, told the Gazette that he believed a revamped K Village which would form part of a wider retail and housing development at the current site and in Lound Street would give Kendal's retail economy a "shot in the arm" and dismissed fears that it would do more damage than good to Kendal.

"It can't be bad that somebody is willing to invest £100 million into the town it can't all be doom and gloom," he said.

Chairman of the SLFSB, George Inchmore, recently told fellow members of the Kendal Retail Forum, which includes manager of K Village Mandy Dixon, that the redevelopment of the factory outlet would "wipe out" Kendal town centre.

However, developers Kendal Riverside Ltd insisted a new outlet would complement rather than compete with other town centre traders and would create almost 200 new jobs.

They are planning two three-day exhibitions of the plans for the redevelopment at K Village in August and September.