Kendal Eco-Fair

KDCS will be at the Kendal Eco-Fair being held by SLACC on Sat 29th March at the Castle St Centre, Kendal 10.30am - 4pm. Call in to see Steve or Neil who will be on the KDCS stand, we will be showing the Kendal Riverside Leisure route proposal drawings and also the 3D visualisation drawings, and also a Bike Maintenance workshop.

The Eco-Fair will have workshops, talks and stalls on all manner of topics from recycling, composting, organics, home renewable energy, green consumer shopping and lots more!

On the Saturday morning at 10:30am the Eco-Fair will be opened by our local MP Tim Farron, so why not come along and celebrate with us?

3D visualisations of the Kendal Riverside Route

We have received a PDF that shows various 3D visualisations of the Kendal Riverside Route scheme, printed versions of these were shown at the third meeting about the Kendal Riverside Route Proposals. We hope to have these available to view on the KDCS web site soon, they will be on show at the Kendal Eco-Fair being held by SLACC on Sat 29th March at the Castle St Centre, Kendal 10.30am - 4pm. See the next item, above for more details

The visualisation drawings are shown on 7 pages, it is quite a large file. If you would like them emailed to you - email KDCS blog and ask for the Kendal Riverside Route - 3D visualisations drawings. It would be better if you have broadband as the PDF is quite a large file.

You will need Adobe Acrobat installed, most people will have this, it is free download available here> Adobe Acrobat

Saturday 15th March - Ride from Windermere Ferry -Cunsey- Rusland-Brantwood

WD 40 was definitely needed on last Saturdays ride, who hadn't been cycling and who was just a little bit rusty?

Ten riders met at Ferry Nab for the ferry, to cross Windermere. Possible showers from lunchtime, that could be heavy was the weather forecast that we looked forward too. After the ferry across the lake, Bill's route meant that we missed the climb to Far Sawrey, as his route took us along by the lake and through Cunsey Wood and onto Graythwaite Hall, a right turn took us over the climb and down to Crossland and into the Rusland Valley. We went down the valley via Causeway End to Bouth, we thought about a stop for coffee, but decided with the weather forecast to press on, whilst it was still dry and try to get to the lunch stop in the dry.

On the quite, undulating roads, we continued via Spark Bridge and Lowick Bridge. The instructions Bill had provided, had pointed out a group photo opportunity at Nibthwaite. Overlooking the southern end of Coniston Water is a modern sculpture figure, it looks to be by Antony Gormley, in the same style as his famous figures now permanently erected on Crosby Beach. Normally Mike who works in the local Tourist Information Offices is able to give us up to date information, but this sculpture was news to him, we are sure it has only been put in place within the last year, other than that we don't know any more about it.

Then only a short way alongside the eastern shore of Coniston to Brantwood, for a well earned lunch stop. Fully refreshed, we then made our way down to Coniston, as Mike and Celia needed to get back earlier they left us to take a short cut over Hawkeshead Hill to get the ferry back, we went on the A593, past Yewdale and High Cross towards Skelwith Bridge. Before the bends at the top of the main descent down to Skelwith Bridge, we turned right along a minor road, which gave lovely views over Brathay, Loughrigg and Ambleside, then past Bull Close we turned right to get to the crossroads at the Drunken Duck. A right turn here took us towards Hawkeshead Hill, but we soon turned left - too soon it transpired - as we should have gone down Skinner How Lane, but instead we went down from Knipe Fold and onto the B5286, a bit of confusion was soon resolved with our local knowledge (?). A brief stop in Hawkeshead, and on towards the ferry, it was just pulling away as we arrived!

Despite the poor forecast, and the darker sky we'd seen after lunch, along with the few light spots in Hawkeshead we got back without any rain, or the forecast heavy showers - to nicely round off an anjoyable, if hilly ride. Thanks to Bill Jackson for his route, around 36 miles - Bill could not lead his ride so I tried to follow his instructions and lead it for him - Neil Hazlehurst

P.S. Spot the odd one out?

The next ride is on Sunday 6th April and starts from Kendal Leisure Centre at 10.30, Janet and Paul are leading the ride to Bowland Bridge, of around 30 miles. Ring either - Peter Raffle - 01524 761801 or Bill Jackson - 015394 44179 for further details.

Kendal Riverside Route Proposals

Third Consultation Meeting 5th March 08 - County Hall, Kendal

This was a very positive meeting, with support and general agreement for the main proposals.

The revised proposal drawings showed a number of amendments to the previous drawings,which had taken notice of the points raised at the earlier meeting. Four drawing were shown as well as a number of 3D visualisation drawings showing how a number of the junctions would look.

The three route drawings showed the three options for the New Road section of the route -

Option 1 - shows the pedestrian/cycle way along side the road, in front of the parked cars.

Option 2 - shows the pedestrian/cycle way going along by the wall by the river at the back of the New Road , from Melrose Place, just after the footbridge to Gooseholme and coming out past the toilets to the front of the parked cars then along to Miller Bridge.

Option 3 - shows the pedestrian/cycle way going all the way along by the wall by the river at the back of the New Road, from Melrose Place, (just after the footbridge to Gooseholme) and then all the way to Miller Bridge, going behind the toilets and over the slipway by way of a (removable) bridge.

All the three options have the New Road as reduced to one lane, and one lane over Miller Bridge to give wider footpath over the bridge.

It has been confirmed, that Gooseholme is proposed to be shared use cycle/pedestrian as other footpath sections and subject to obtaining permissive rights from the landowner, this would then link with the Canal cycle path.

The forth drawing shows the the design of the signs to be used on the route -we were told they are designed to be less obtrusive.

The overwhelming view of the people at the meeting was in favour of option 3 - the main reasons being - it was felt it would be more pleasant, being by the river rather than alongside a busy road- it also would be safer as there was less potential for conflict with vehicles, no need to cycle across the entrance and exits for the car park.

A number of items in the detail of the design of a few parts of the route were queried, and some minor redesign was to take place. But the overwhelming conclusion was how good the proposal was, how much it would benefit Kendal. For both cyclists and pedestrians, it will transform getting around Kendal - and should encourage more people to cycle in Kendal in future.

PDF copies of the latest Kendal Leisure Route - Drawings (including amendments resulting from the second consultation meeting) can be emailed to you -there are four PDF documents -

Kendal_Jan08 - Whole Scheme - Option 1

Kendal_Jan08 - Whole Scheme - Option 2

Kendal_Jan08 - Whole Scheme - Option 3-1

Kendal_Jan08 - Whole Scheme - Typical Sign Faces - Cross Se

NOTE: These are new drawings dated 4.3.08 and not the drawings on the KDCS web site.

To get the drawings email Latest Kendal Leisure Route - Drawings and ask for the Kendal Riverside Route - proposals drawings, you will be sent all four unless you specify otherwise.


It would be better if you have broadband as the four PDF’s are quite large files.

You will need Adobe Acrobat installed, most people will have this, it is free download

available here> Adobe Acrobat

Sunday 2nd March Sedbergh ride -Orton -Sunbiggin Tarn and Ravenstondale

Twelve cyclists met at Sedbergh for Peter Raffles ride, we set off and soon we climbed gently north towards Howgill and the Lune gorge. The weather through the day proved to be quite breezy, with patches of sun and some cloudier spells.

It was only when I checked the map later that I noticed that the unfenced section of the road closest to the M6 was marked as "Roman Road". Shortly after we had joined the A685 we turned left before the bridge over the M6, an undulating road with lovely views took us to Bridge End and the the right turn to go over the M6, soon we were descending into Orton for a café stop.

After Orton, and on to the open moor to Sunbiggin Tarn, and a mile later the sharp right turn to bring us down to Newbiggin-on-Lune and then Ravenstondale, and a brief stop near the King's Head for lunch, most of us eating outside, quite bracing. Through Ravenstonedale to the A683 junction at the Fat Lamb and at this point we split into two equal groups, of six each. One group took the more direct route back to Sedbergh, via the A683. The other group went north towards Kirby Stephen on the A683 for about a mile before tuning right onto the minor road across Wharton Fell to drop down into the Mallerstang Valley.

Pendragon Castle, or rather the ruins, stand at the junction with the B6259 , according to legend, the Castle is the site where Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur, died. The undulating ride down the B6259 took us past the Moorcock Inn and we joined the A684 at Garsdale Head to make our return to Sedbergh, against a slight niggling headwind. We all luckily got back to our vehicles just before a slight hail shower, as the weather started to deteriorate.

The longer route was about 45 miles.

The next ride starts at Ferry Nab, Windermere on Saturday 15th March at 10.00 prompt, the ride is via Cunsey, Spark Bridge, Brantwood, Coniston, Yewdale and Hawkeshead to then return on the ferry, approx 36 miles. Ring Neil 015394-42586 for further details.

KDCS Newsletter 2008 - 1 PDF download

The first KDCS Newsletter of 2008 is available to download as a PDF from the Mint Cake MTB web site, look under recent news dated 1.3.08 to select the link.

Many thanks to Paul M. Allen for getting it onto the Mint Cake MTB web site so quickly.

The Kendal Riverside Route - proposals drawings are now on the KDCS web site.

Kendal Riverside Route - proposals drawings are now on the KDCS web site and you can download them to view.

There are three proposal drawings

PDF - Option 1 - shows the northern section of the route from Dockray Hall to Stramongate Bridge

PDF - Option 2 - shows the New Road section in detail

PDF - Option 3 - shows the Waterside (Kent Place) to Nether Bridge section

You will need Adobe Acrobat installed, most people will have this, it is free download available here> Adobe Acrobat


KDCS would like your views, what do you think about the proposals?

• Remember the meeting -
  

• Third Consultation Meeting -Kendal Riverside Leisure Route

• 5th March 08 - 7pm - County Hall, Kendal
  

Please let Liz Ashburn know what you think - by the end of 3rd March - Monday evening, to allow time to put your comments together for Wednesday, and then submit them for KDCS.