Response from Mr Kenneth Gibson (Individual)
1. Mr Kenneth Gibson (Individual) : 12 Apr 2011 15:44:00
Settlement
Kendal
Map Number
1 (4 of 6) Kendal South West
Site reference number (e.g. R62) - If your comment is about a specific site you must indicate the correct site reference.
M41KM, E4M
Housing
Oppose
Employment
Oppose
Retail
Oppose
Community uses
Oppose
Open space
Support
Please explain your reasons
The land marked as M41KM is a raised hillside facing south east, which dominates the most important southern entrance to Kendal from the A591. The impact of any form of development on this land would severely detract from the unique market town character of Kendal for both visitors and residents alike. The raised land is clearly visible from both the A6 to the south and east and the A591 to the west. Any form of modern development on this land would be detrimental to the visual impact of this most important southerly route into Kendal. The visitor's first impression is an important consideration and development on this site could adversely effect tourism in the town. The traffic flowing along the A6 into Kendal at peak travelling times is already causing traffic jams which occasionally extend to the junction with the A591 at Shenstone. Adding further traffic volume through a development to the south of Lumley Road would worsen the situation and could well present a major safety issue with standing traffic on the A591 which is of course dual carriageway. Increased traffic volume would also in general have a negative impact on the volume of tourists wishing to visit the town.
The same comments generally apply to the area marked as E4M although the visual impact would be lessened as the site gently slopes away from the A6 road
The general low wage economy of the area generates its own problems of home affordability and force our qualified young people to move outside the area to pursue a career. In the South Lakeland area there is a severe shortage of high technology jobs. Kendal town urgently needs those jobs if we are to retain a balanced community. Businesses of this type are usually established by entrepreneurs, who are strongly persuaded to come to a particular region because of the natural assets and lifestyle of that region. Should development on the land marked as M41KM and E4M proceed, the unique character of Kendal would be changed for ever. This would in my view have a negative impact with regard to quality businesses to moving Kendal. Such actions could well condemn Kendal and South Lakeland to be low wage economies for the foreseeable future
Do you think that your area needs new or improved community facilities? If so, what sort of facilities and where?
Please explain the types of improved and/or new community facilities your community may need in the next 15 years
An option which must be considered is to extend the existing Kendal A591 by-pass from the Plumgarths roundabout to join with the A6 north of Kendal. This will reduce the volume of commercial and private traffic on the A6 southerly approach to Kendal, and the volume of town centre traffic. As a result there would be an improvement in the town centre air quality which at times is currently below recommended standards.
The new bypass would provide good safe access for housing development and access to sites for strategic employment development.
