Cordons have been lifted on Kirkby Lonsdale’s Main Street following a devastating fire in the town earlier this month.
A blaze ripped through buildings and claimed a man’s life on Sunday, December 8, rocking the community to its core.
Much of the street has been a no-go area since then, as the fire resulted in damage to several buildings and work has been ongoing to demolish structurally unsound properties and make the area safe.
Cordons were lifted yesterday, Friday December 20, to allow pedestrian access as well as residential and business access.
Access up to St Mary’s Court including Spar, Platos, Gathered and Mill House Cottages from Main Street and access to The Sun Inn from Market Street only.
There will be no through access for pedestrians between Market Street and Main Street over the weekend.
Temporary loading bays have been created in Market Square to support businesses in Main Street and Market Street whose loading arrangements have been disrupted.
Community support centre
The community support centre has remained in St Mary’s Church this week. This is being manned by local volunteers from 9am to 5pm daily with support from Westmorland and Furness Council officers.
People are urged to call in for help and advice. The centre is welcoming of people of all faiths and people with no faith. Anyone unable to visit in person can call 015242 36404.
The centre will be open 10am to 3pm on Monday December 23, Friday December 27 and Friday January 3.
Parking
Parking in Westmorland and Furness Council-run car parks – New Road 1, New Road 2 and Market Square – will be free to use until January 14.
Parking off Wellington Court, adjacent to the A65 and before the Lunesdale Surgery (with the exception of the specified staff parking bays) if offered throughout December as temporary unrestricted parking with immediate effect.
The Booths main store car park remains one hour free with an option to purchase a second hour as normal.
The Lunesdale Surgery parking is for patients of the doctor’s surgery only. Our thanks go to Booths for their ongoing support to the community and the economic recovery of the town.
Anybody parking in Market Square is asked to use the spaces off Wellington Court if they are staying longer than an hour, to keep spaces available for shoppers.
People are asked to park considerately around the town and within the car parks, do not block narrow lanes or passing places and make use of the free parking arrangements across the town
Roads reopening
Further to the completion of the scaffolding at the eastern end and installation this afternoon of the necessary protective concrete blocks, Westmorland & Furness Council said it was now in a position to open Mill Brow to light goods vehicles and pedestrians from Monday.
A one-way traffic and weight restrictions to 3.5 tonnes will be in place from the end of Ruskin Drive through Horse Market and up to the top of Mill Brow to enable a circulation of local traffic to take place as safely as possible.
Exemptions to the restrictions for emergency service vehicles will be included to ensure they have access to properties and they are able to pass the Spar and line up in the wider turning head to get down Mill Brow.
Signs will be installed as soon as possible to accompany the reopening. Parking bays on Main Street will be suspended and coned off to deter vehicles from circling repeatedly to try and access one of a few usually available limited waiting parking spaces.
Mitchelgate is open – but only open one way – follow the diversions and signs.
Visitors urged to check before travelling
New guests arriving to stay in Kirkby Lonsdale are encouraged to check travel arrangements ahead of arrival to ensure they are can access accommodation providers due to diversions in place.
Visitors are also encouraged to park over the weekend and throughout the festive period at Wellington Court for free to ensure short term visitors have access to car parks closer to the town centre.
Late-night shopping
Businesses in Kirkby Lonsdale are holding late-night opening events until 7pm on Monday December 23. Monday night will feature a performance from Drum Nation.
Hophouse Lane
Improvement work on Hophouse Lane is now completed.
Festive afternoon event
Join the Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band for a festive afternoon at St Mary’s Church from 4pm today, Saturday December 21. Free entry, retiring collection, mince pies and raffle. All proceeds to the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Impact Support Fund.
Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Impact Support Fund
At the request of the Kirkby Lonsdale Community Recovery Partnership, Cumbria Community Foundation has launched the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal to help support the immediate and long-term recovery of people affected by the fire.
The appeal was launched with a donation of £50,000 from Westmorland and Furness Council and has so far raised over £79,000.
The appeal is focused on individual hardship caused by the fire and will broadly support the following:
- People who have lost their homes and possessions to the fire and been displaced, and
- People who are suffering hardship due to business closure linked to the fire and the loss of income to their households.
- If funds allow, community recovery activities
To donate to the fund, click here
To find out more about the fund, click here
The initial application round for immediate grants has now closed and Cumbria Community Foundation is reviewing applications and making payments.
Seventy applications are being processed and distributed.
