Kendal shopkeepers have voiced their fears about loading restrictions, which they say could harm their livelihoods.

Kendal Retail Forum heard that councillors would decide next week whether to impose new rules about loading and unloading along Stricklandgate, Sandes Avenue, New Road and Blackhall Road.

Cumbria County Council area support manager Stuart Pate told the gathering of retailers he believed there was a small number of places, particularly the north side of Sandes Avenue, where just one lorry could cause "incredible congestion".

Next Thursday (May 8) the South Lakeland local committee would decide "the severity" of HGV restrictions, if indeed it decided to impose any at all, said Mr Pate.

"I suspect they will put some in but they wouldn't be going for the full shooting match of banning it between 8am and 6pm because that would be seen as being too onerous," he said.

Retailer George Inchmore, of men's fashionwear store George Edwardian, was annoyed by the prospect of

loading restrictions. He said it could result in shop staff having to get to work at 5.30am, and staying there until 7.30pm, to accept deliveries. He said staff would be reluctant to work such hours, and shop owners could not afford to pay them.

Ruth Farrar, of Henry Roberts book shop, asked why loading and unloading restrictions could not be imposed outside schools, to prevent the congestion caused by the school run, rather than restricting businesses.

Mr Inchmore claimed CCC was "going against" retailers rather than helping them, and called for Kendal to be "a car-friendly town" that was easy to navigate with car parking spaces available for shoppers and visitors.

He was annoyed that recommendations on loading restrictions were not yet in the public domain: "We need to know what the situation is, this is our livelihood."

Kendal Retail Forum agreed to hold an emergency meeting once the report was released, so it could have time to lobby committee chairman Anne Parker before the meeting if necessary.

April 30, 2003 09:01