Bridge closure impact ‘unmanageable’, says business

Image caption, Director of Blue Star Taxis Usman Saleem said Kendal traffic was "getting worse"

Businesses have said they have had fewer customers and reduced earnings after one of a town's main bridges was closed for repairs.

Nether Bridge in Kendal, Cumbria, has been closed to vehicles since Monday to allow for heritage stonework to be restored after part of the structure was knocked into the river in June.

Director of Blue Star Taxis Usman Saleem described the situation as "unmanageable", saying his drivers earned at least 25% less each day, while shop Pete Bland Sports on Kirkland has reported falling footfall.

Westmorland and Furness Council said the closure allowed for repairs using traditional lime mortar which would preserve the bridge's character.

Councillor Peter Thornton, the authority's cabinet member for highways, said the repairs had to be completed before restrictions on working in the river meant waiting until next summer.

"We were very keen to get the work done this year and not have to wait until what we call the 'working in the river window', which is next summer," he said.

Nether Bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument spanning the River Kent, which is designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

A 48-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving over the crash in June and is due to appear in court in April 2027.

Image source, Westmorland and Furness CouncilImage caption, Nether Bridge in Kendal is closed to all vehicles for five days

Yolande Nelson, a shop assistant at Pete Bland Sports, said she had "definitely noticed fewer customers coming into the store".

"As a small independent family-run business, that is going to have an effect on us because we rely on people coming into the shop."

Meanwhile Saleem described the situation impacting his taxi firm as "unmanageable" as the closure had been making traffic in the town worse.

"We are constantly having to text [customers] or give them a call to apologise for the delays," he said.

"September, October time is quiet as it is, but on top of that, now this is basically at least 25% less earnings daily."

Image caption, Councillor Peter Thornton said the council would continue exploring the relief road scheme

Bus company Stagecoach has had to apologise to passengers after heavy traffic affected bus services.

There had been hopes the government would fund a relief road as part of its road and rail investment programme, which would ease congestion in the town, but it recently declined, external, citing financial pressures.

Saleem said: "This was a no-brainer to us, especially in the transport industry.

"This town, and in fact the Lake District, needs this road. Traffic is bad and getting worse."

But Nelson said the situation was a "double-edged sword", because reducing traffic to the town centre would impact footfall to businesses.

Thornton said the council would continue exploring the scheme, although its immediate prospects were limited.

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