Meeting to discuss concerns of Kendal traders

South Lakeland District Council cabinet member Ian Stewart has called a meeting to address the concerns of worried traders in Kendal.

Local businesses have protested after receiving letters advising them that their advertising boards could not be displayed on the pavement. The signs can be a potential hazard to people who are visually impaired.

Councillor Ian Stewart, cabinet member for Economy and Enterprise, met with South Lakes MP Tim Farron to discuss the potential effects removing advertising boards could have on Kendal’s businesses. Ian will be writing to the affected traders next week to invite them to a meeting with the Council’s economic development team.

According to latest figures, Kendal is South Lakeland’s biggest high street with 410 shops. There are currently 48 empty, which gives Kendal a vacancy rate of 11.7 per cent compared to just six months ago when there were 53 empty shops. Despite the current financial climate the outlook for Kendal remains very positive.

Ian said: "The vibrancy that our retailers bring to Kendal is great, and the resilience of traders in tough economic times is praiseworthy. By working together, we can make sure that a solution is found which recognises the needs of those who need a clear and unobstructed pathway, and also the need for the vibrancy in Kendal to remain."