Cumbria County Council would like to confirm to residents, businesses and visitors that pedestrianisation of the town is not being considered as part of any current discussions.
Concerns arose following temporary restrictions which were put in place on Middlegate, Devonshire Street and Kings Street in Penrith on 20 June. Following feedback from residents and business, these trial restrictions were removed a week later.
The current temporary parking restrictions in the town and road closure at Kings Street are purely about trying to create safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists to be able to access local facilities whilst adhering to the Government’s social distancing guidance.
Chair of Eden Local Committee, Cllr David Whipp said: “Pedestrianisation is not on the cards. The county council received a small allocation of funding from the Department for Transport as part of their Emergency Active Travel Fund which is intended to encourage people to continue to cycle and walk as they have been doing during the lockdown period – which is partly what the original scheme had hoped to achieve as well as assisting safe social distancing.
“To be clear, there is no intention for Eden Local Committee to submit a further bid for future funding for this scheme. Instead, we will be working with county council officers, stakeholders and inviting comments from the public on alternative long term cycling and walking schemes within Eden.”
