Keswick Ministries has applied for planning permission to operate a public car park on their site in Skiddaw Street.
“We know this move will be welcomed by residents, guest house owners and visitors in this part of Keswick,“ said David Sawday, COO at Keswick Ministries. “There is a shortage of parking places in the surrounding area of the town and opening up our Skiddaw Street site will provide a popular option for motorists.”
The application which is currently with the Lake District National Park Planning Authority, proposes the creation of 73 car parking spaces. This will be on the area of flat hard standing to the rear of the Skiddaw Centre where the Marquee is sited during the Convention.
Keswick Ministries, Skiddaw Street site will host the 2019 Keswick Convention in July before the Convention moves to the Pencil Factory site in 2020. The Skiddaw Street centre will continue to be used for volunteer accommodation and by visiting school and church groups for some years. It’s hoped that the car park could be in operation by the Autumn following approval and the installation of meters.
“Over the last year we have received a number of representations from townsfolk on whether our site could be used for public car parking,” added Mr Sawday, “We believe that making this space available will be of great benefit to the town. It also aligns with our policy of letting our flat standing areas for parking outside Convention time, as we currently do at our Rawnsley and Pencil Factory sites. Car parking is in short supply in Keswick and we are happy to help where we can.”
Keswick Ministries is currently in discussion with Allerdale Council and other providers of car parking management.