Changes have been made to a controversial application for a car park in a Lake District town – but the plan has still angered residents.
Cumbria County Council wants to create the 29-space car park on land next to Applethwaite Green care home in Phoenix Way, Windermere.
But the proposal, first put forward last year, drew objections from people concerned about the potential for queueing traffic and the safety of residents living along the road.
A number of changes have now been made to the proposed scheme. A revised planning, design and access statement from town planning services firm Peter Winter says the planned car park entrance has been moved as far as possible to the south west to improve visibility along Phoenix Way towards the A591.
Also included in the alterations are a proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Phoenix Way, measures to prevent vehicles turning left when exiting the car park, and a system giving priority to vehicles heading towards the A591 from the car park.
However, residents remain concerned by the plans, with Dr Robert Judson, who lives in Phoenix Way, saying: “It’s not the about the detail, it’s about the principle and the principle is, in a nutshell, the Lake District National Park do not need any more car parks.
“They do not need any more tourism. The Lake District is a cash cow. More and more tourism and more and more people.
“The shops are closing because they can’t afford the rents, the lakes are polluted.”
Antony Sutton, who also lives in Phoenix Way, which does not have a pavement, said a number of wheelchair and mobility scooter users lived along the road and that their lives would be endangered by increased traffic.
He felt there was a risk of traffic backing up along the A591 and said: “I think that local interests are being ignored for the benefit of visitors.”
In a representation published online, Dr Joseph Elliston, of Phoenix Way, said he believed the proposal was ‘likely to create significant traffic management issues’ and referred to the ‘unsuitability’ of the site in question.
Members of the public have until February 10 to comment on the application, which has been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority by Cumbria County Council.
