REDUCED car parking offers introduced in Kendal to mitigate the impact of the closure of common land at New Road to vehicles have been extended.

South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC) cabinet has agreed to extend the trial tariff arrangements until March and intends to continue them into the next financial year.

This includes continuing with the £1 ‘early bird’ all-day parking offer at Westmorland Shopping Centre, which was reduced from its previous rate of £2.20.

Members also agreed to revert to pre-trial closing times at two multi-storey car parks, after hearing these offers had proved less popular.

From January 13, the closing time at Westmorland Shopping Centre will revert to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 5.30pm on Sundays.

The lower levels of the car park at South Lakeland House will also revert to its previous 6.30pm closing time, after being kept open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under the trial to provide overnight parking options for residents.

With the top, open-air level of the car park continuing to be accessible for overnight parking, there is believed to be capacity to accommodate the numbers of vehicles using the car park for this purpose.

The lower levels will open at 7am Monday-Saturday and by 8.30am on Sundays.

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Cllr Graham Vincent, portfolio holder for economy, said: “It’s clear that many of the cheap ticket deals have been well received and certainly the £1 a day ‘early bird’ ticket at the Westmorland Shopping Centre car park has been very popular, which is understandable as it’s a really good offer.

“Crucially the deals appear to have achieved their goal, which was to provide attractive alternatives for vehicles displaced from New Road so drivers didn’t look to park in residential streets. We have been closely monitoring any impacts on these side streets near the town centre with colleagues at the county council responsible for on-street parking issues, and there have not been any significant problems highlighted.

“In contrast it has become apparent that the extended opening hours at the two multi-storey car parks have not been as well used. When we weighed the costs of these measures against the benefits it was clear that we should revert to the original closing times."

Full list of charges on council-operated car parks in Kendal: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/parking/car-parking/car-parks-and-parking-charges/kendal-car-parks-and-parking-charges/