LOCAL campaigners claim the ambitious £40 million scheme to redevelop the grotty Kingsway area of Lancaster will cripple the city's traffic system.

North Lancashire Friends of the Earth have called for an urgent meeting with chief planning officer, Vic Crumley, to express concerns about the development's 600 space "park and walk" scheme.

The group claim it's simply a car park and that the extra traffic generated by the new retail and leisure complex will be disastrous for the city's transport system.

"The area is badly in need of redevelopment but the current proposals look like desperation on the part of the city council," said campaigner, Jon Sear. "They have tried to justify them on the grounds of jobs, but in reality many jobs could be lost elsewhere due to the competition. The plans have clearly been drawn up by motorists for motorist with road widening and road barriers likely to deter anyone thinking of arriving on foot or bicycle or visiting other shops at the same time. Motorists will suffer too because more cars will mean more congestion."

The derelict Kingsway site, which includes the former bus station, swimming baths and Bridge End House, will be redeveloped by Chelverton Properties, who claim that the project will create up to 500 jobs.

The company bought the site for £4 million and plan to invest around £40 million in the site, which will feature retail outlets, a hotel and leisure facilities. But the "park and walk" scheme has upset campaigners.

Mr Sear added: "We need a complete rethink, we can't expect people to use cars less if we carry on designing our cities around them. The council is calling it a park and walk scheme because they don't want to call it a car park. I don't think anyone will be fooled by that. It's wriggling around existing limits."

Do you think the proposals for Kingsway are what Lancaster needs? Write to our popular letters column with your views.

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