We are concerned about an application for works at New Road Common, Kendal to reinstate former unlawful car parking on this site. A successful application would undo South Lakeland District Council's hard work over the last two years to:

• prevent further car parking,
• remove the pollution the car parking has caused to the soil and surface,
• restore the common to green and a place the public can sit and enjoy the riverscape and views across to Kendal Castle.

We urge people to join us in our objection to this application to help ensure that this area of common land is not returned to its former state as an unlawful car park.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENT: Sunday 20th January 2019

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If you share our concern and object to this application, then please submit your comments in writing by Sunday 20^th January to The Planning Inspectorate, Commons Team at 3F Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN or alternatively, email [email protected] with your concerns.

Our View

We have already submitted an objection to this application. Please feel free to draw on our summary below or read our full submission to inform your own response. We would suggest that you author something in your own words to add weight to your response but the important thing is that you do submit an objection before the deadline if you share our concern.

What is the application for?
A private individual has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for permission to reinstate a car park on part of New Road Common in Kendal. The land is common land and as such consent to develop it is needed from the Planning Inspectorate. The application is from someone who wishes for the former unlawful car parking to be reinstated. It does not have the consent of the landowner, South Lakeland District Council.

Why is this land important?
The land is registered common land and it gives the inhabitants of the district a right of free access to every part of the common for games, recreation and enjoyment. The land is in the centre of Kendal and forms a key link between the townscape and the river. It is part of the heritage of Kendal, and its sense of place. South Lakeland District Council have in the last two years removed the unlawful parking and begun a programme of enhancement so the common has been restored to green and a place the public can sit and enjoy.

What are the issues?

• The land is common land and the residents of the district have a legal right of free access to it for recreation and enjoyment. A car park on the land will prevent this free right of access and use.
• The common has both a Scheme of Management, and Byelaws which make car parking unlawful. The applicant has not got the consent of the landowner for the works, but even if they had, it would still be unlawful to turn the land into a car park. The application is therefore spurious and could never be enacted, and so should be rejected out of hand.
• South Lakeland District Council has worked hard in the last two years to prevent further car parking, remove the pollution the car parking has caused to the soil and surface, and restore the common to green and a place the public can sit and enjoy the riverscape and views across to Kendal Castle. Green spaces in the town are a key part of its character, but also important for attracting people to the town, and for combatting pollution, climate change, providing habitats, etc.
• There is a vociferous minority who wish to see car parking on the common, contrary to the views of the majority. A parish poll last year showed an overwhelming majority of 71% in favour of the common remaining as a green space. The common is not just for the parish however, the inhabitants of the whole district have a legal right to enjoy it. This is a spurious and underhand application by an individual trying to fulfil their wishes contrary to the majority view and landowner's view.

Parking Pressures

We believe that there is a growing need for sustainable transport solutions for Kendal and the wider county of Cumbria. However, we appreciate that in the short term, the closure of the common land at New Road to vehicles puts pressure on parking elsewhere in Kendal but to South Lakeland District Council's credit, and following representations from users of New Road, Kendal BID and others, it has approved a package of parking options for existing council car parks to help alleviate these pressures and in addition, is currently conducting a full parking needs assessment for Kendal. More information is available on its website>.

Submitting your response

View the application
A copy of the application form and accompanying documents can be inspected at J36 Rural Auction Centre during normal office hours until 20th January, 2019. A copy of the application form and accompanying documents may be obtained by writing to J36 Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7FP.

Submit your comments
Any representations should be sent in writing by 20^th January to The Planning Inspectorate, Commons Team at 3F Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN or [email protected]