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 TOURISM and business leaders in Keswick are calling for a halt to parking restrictions which, if approved by Cumbria County Council, will mean the loss of approximately 60 parking spaces around the town.
Local businesses and Keswick Tourism Association say the proposals should be halted until a comprehensive car parking strategy for Keswick is put in place.
The new restrictions mean double yellow lines will be installed this autumn in the area of Blencathra Street, Helvellyn Street, Brundholme Road, Ambleside Road and other parts of the town.
Cumbria County Council told The Keswick Reminder that the measures were aimed at stopping inconsiderate parking in the town and had been fully consulted on and advertised.
Martin Lankester, the Chairman of Keswick Tourism Association, said “ Keswick’s car parks and on street parking and all other areas are at full stretch at busy times and this action to impose additional no parking areas will make a bad situation worse. The County Council along with Town Council and Allerdale Borough Council must develop a workable strategy for parking in and around the town. If that is additional car parks, park and ride schemes or other solutions we should all work together for the overall benefit of the town’s economy.”
It is understood that in the Helvellyn and Blencathra Street areas double yellow lines will be painted to all street corners on all sides of the junction resulting in less parking spaces. Most residents and businesses seem to be unaware that these new restrictions are to be introduced even though the County Council has an obligation to advertise the changes.
Paul Titley Chairman of Keswick BID said: “These actions are a solution to a problem that does not exist. Our organisation has spent considerable time and money in partnership with the Town Council to develop the new car park on the Hospital Field site with 70 spaces proposed and these changes will wipe out any benefit immediately.”
He said even though restrictions have been reduced following consultation, the plans are not thought through and will cause more problems. There will be greater visibility on street corner, but this will mean traffic moving faster and create a greater hazard; local residents, those who drive to work and visitors, will find parking more difficult; more congestion will be created by motorist driving around in search of parking and business in Keswick’s shops will be hit by less convenient parking.
Mr Titley said Cumbria County Council must consider an overall approach to this issue before imposing further restrictions.
A Cumbria Highways spokesman said: “These proposals are aimed at tackling the problem of inconsiderate parking in Keswick and the surrounding area and have been advanced following discussions with Keswick Town Council, various parish councils and the general public.
“In certain areas of the town, parked cars are causing problems for other motorists and pedestrians. In Blencathra Street and Helvellyn Street parked vehicles have been blocking pedestrian crossing points so the introduction of double yellow lines would prevent this.
“The proposals have been fully consulted on and advertised and have taken on board comments received from various organisations. Cumbria County Council’s local committee for Allerdale is due to make a decision on whether to implement the proposals on 20th September and if they get the go-ahead we’d expect the changes to be introduced towards the end of this year, possibly during November.”
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