Work is due to start in just over a month’s time on the first elements of a scheme to improve Kendal’s historic Market Place.
South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is leading on a project to create a high-quality, versatile space suitable for hosting a wide range of community-focused events and markets.
The £200,000 initiative is being supported by a project board including SLDC, Kendal Futures, Cumbria County Council, Kendal Civic Society, Kendal Town Council, Kendal Business Improvement District and the Chamber of Commerce.
The finished design should be more attractive for shoppers and visitors, and can be better used for markets and events to support the local economy. in line with the results of a pedestrian survey conducted in 2014 – which showed people wanted Market Place to be de-cluttered to make it easier to get around, with improved seating and lighting, but retained as a public open space for festivals and events.
The aim of the scheme is to make Market Place a welcoming and atmospheric, safe public space, and encourage a vibrant café culture, evening economy, and a quality retail environment attractive to businesses, residents and visitors. The war memorial area will be unaffected by the work.
The first phase will involve the removal of two trees at the Highgate end of Market Place.
The existing silver birch trees were looked at to see if they could be incorporated in to the new design scheme but arboricultural investigations have shown they are reaching the end of their natural life span, because they are contained within a restrictive walling. The roots have also started to damage the surrounding wall structure and paving.
It is not be possible to relocate the trees as their root systems are too entangled and they would not survive being moved. The new design scheme will incorporate a new tree, one more suited to the space, in an underground planted pit, ensuring it has sufficient rooting volume for now and in the future.
The tree specimen will be carefully selected so that it is of a type that will absorb more pollution than the current silver birches, also serving to help improve air quality in the town centre.
Following consultation with the RSPB the removal of the silver birch trees has been scheduled for early March, to avoid disturbing the pied wagtails that roost there during winter months. The advice is that by late February/early March the birds will have migrated and not return until next winter.
Once the trees are removed Cumbria County Council will begin installing new street lighting in Market Place, around the 17 March.
The £30,000 project to replace the old green street lights has already been approved and will involve removing the existing lights along the edge of Market Place and Branthwaite Brow, replacing them with two new, centrally located lamp-posts in Market Place, each with four heritage-style lights, and matching single light lamp-posts on Branthwaite Brow. The new lighting scheme will provide far better lighting across Market Place and Branthwaite Brow.
Design specialists AECOM are currently working on design options to make the space more attractive for shoppers and visitors.
The overall design for the Market Place will be subject to public consultation in late February/early March, to invite comments and suggestions on the preferred option before the final scheme is agreed. Works will then begin once the final designs are approved and the new street lighting installed. It is possible this phase of work could start in May.
The project board members are also keen to manage the project to ensure that, where possible, work does not take place on market days and during school holiday periods and to try and keep disruption to the businesses and public to a minimum.
SLDC’s economy portfolio holder Councillor Graham Vincent said: “We are taking great care to ensure that this project delivers an attractive, clutter-free and more accessible space but without too much disruption to shoppers, traders or bird life.
“We are mindful of trying to avoid busy market days and school holidays and we have discussed the issue of the roosting birds in the existing trees with the RSPB.
“They have advised that scheduling the removal of the old trees in late February or early March is best as by then the birds will have moved on for summer.
“By the time they return a much more suitable replacement tree will be in place.
“We hope that residents and businesses around Market Place now take the time to come along to look at the proposed designs for the rest of Market Place and we welcome that feedback.’’
