Parking bays at Kendal’s Westmorland Shopping Centre car park are set to become wider from Monday, September 28, in a project designed to make the facility easier to use for modern vehicles. The work will also reduce the total number of spaces available.
Westmorland and Furness Council said the relining programme follows customer feedback that the existing bays are too narrow. Standard spaces will increase from 2.4 metres wide to 2.6 metres, while some spaces between structural pillars will be widened to more than three metres.
Car park to remain open during works
The improvement programme will be completed on a floor-by-floor basis. This means the Westmorland Shopping Centre car park is expected to remain operational throughout the work, although the reduced number of spaces may affect availability for residents, shoppers, businesses and visitors to Kendal town centre.
Councillor Andrew Jarvis, cabinet member for finance and deputy leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said the authority was pleased to have awarded the contract.
“Westmorland Shopping Centre car park is a vital facility for Kendal town centre, supporting residents, businesses and visitors every day.”
He said the wider bays would be “better suited to modern vehicles” and make the car park “easier, safer and more convenient to use”. The council said the project was planned to minimise disruption and address a longstanding concern raised by motorists.
Latest upgrade for the Kendal facility
Councillor Jarvis also described the work as part of the council’s wider investment in maintaining its assets. He pointed to recent LED lighting upgrades at the car park and said the authority wanted its facilities to continue meeting the needs of people using them now and in the future.
Drivers heading to the shopping centre from September 28 should therefore expect some spaces to be unavailable as each floor is relined, while the completed bays will provide more room for vehicles.
