Drivers using Westmorland Shopping Centre car park in Kendal will see work begin on Monday 28 September as Westmorland and Furness Council starts widening its parking bays. The changes are intended to make spaces easier and safer to use, but the revised layout will reduce the total number of parking spaces.
The relining project follows feedback from customers who said the existing bays are too narrow for many modern vehicles. Standard spaces will increase from 2.4 metres wide to 2.6 metres. Some bays positioned between structural pillars will be widened to more than 3 metres where the available space allows.
Work will take place floor by floor
The council says the programme has been arranged to limit disruption for motorists and visitors. Temporary closures will apply only to the levels where work is being carried out, meaning the car park will remain operational throughout the programme.
Further information about the temporary closures will be issued once the detailed programme has been confirmed. The council has not stated how long the work will take.
Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said the contract had been awarded and that the authority was looking forward to the work starting.
“We're pleased to have awarded the contract for these improvement works and we’re looking forward to work starting imminently.
He described the car park as a vital facility for Kendal town centre, supporting residents, businesses and visitors. He said the wider bays would be better suited to modern vehicles and would make the facility easier, safer and more convenient to use.
“Westmorland Shopping Centre car park is a vital facility for Kendal town centre, supporting residents, businesses and visitors every day. The relining works will create wider parking bays that are better suited to modern vehicles and will help make the car park easier, safer and more convenient to use.
Parking capacity and wider review
The council says it has reviewed its own car parking arrangements and usage to help free up more visitor and resident parking in Kendal town centre, helping to offset the reduction in capacity at Westmorland Shopping Centre car park.
A wider review of parking provision across Kendal is also planned for this year. It will examine how parking is currently used and assess future demand across the town. The findings are intended to inform future parking strategies and investment decisions.
The relining is part of the council’s wider programme of maintaining and investing in its assets. It follows an upgrade to the car park’s lighting, with energy-efficient LED lights installed to improve visibility, customer safety and the overall visitor experience.
Councillor Jarvis said the work had been planned floor by floor to minimise disruption and build on the lighting improvements.
“The works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption, with improvements taking place on a floor-by-floor basis so that the car park can remain operational throughout the programme.
