Following the announcement that Westmorland and Furness Council will be undertaking improvements at Westmorland Shopping Centre car park in Kendal, work will begin from Monday 28 September to create wider parking bays that better accommodate modern vehicles.
The relining project will see parking bay widths increased from the current 2.4 metres to 2.6 metres, with some bays located between structural pillars widened to more than 3 metres where space allows. The changes respond directly to customer feedback that existing spaces are too narrow for many of today’s vehicles.
While the improvements will result in a reduction in the total number of spaces, the revised layout will provide a more practical and user-friendly experience for motorists.
To minimise disruption, the programme will be carried out on a floor-by-floor basis, with temporary closures in place only on those levels where work is taking place. More information will follow on this once the programme of work has been confirmed.
This project forms part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and investing in its assets. It follows the successful upgrade of lighting throughout the car park, where energy-efficient LED lighting was installed to improve visibility, customer safety and the overall visitor experience.
A wider review of parking provision across Kendal is also planned this year, which will analyse current usage patterns and future demand for parking across the town and help inform future parking strategies and investment decisions.
To help mitigate the reduction in parking capacity at Westmorland Shopping Centre car park, the Council has also reviewed its own car parking arrangements and usage to help free up more visitor and resident parking in the town centre.
Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
"We're pleased to have awarded the contract for these improvement works and we’re looking forward to work starting imminently.
"Westmorland Shopping Centre car park is a vital facility for Kendal town centre, supporting residents, businesses and visitors every day. The relining works will create wider parking bays that are better suited to modern vehicles and will help make the car park easier, safer and more convenient to use.
"We know from customer feedback that many motorists find the current spaces too narrow, so these changes will address a longstanding concern and improve the overall parking experience.
"The works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption, with improvements taking place on a floor-by-floor basis so that the car park can remain operational throughout the programme.
"This investment is another example of our commitment to maintaining and improving our assets, building on the recent LED lighting upgrades, and ensuring our facilities continue to meet the needs of the people who use them now and in the future."