A public meeting will be held as Kirkby Lonsdale continues to recover from a devastating fire in which a much-loved local man died.
Residents, businesses and visitors are invited to the meeting on Tuesday, January 14 at Lunesdale Hall, Bective Road, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Ben Taylor, 45, died in the fire which broke out in apartments in the market town on the morning of Sunday December 8.
Mr Taylor's family's shop, GR and RD Taylor general store and army supplies on Market Street, was one of the premises damaged by the fire, and has since had to be demolished.
One other person was injured in the fire.
A number of local residents were also made homeless and other businesses were seriously affected, and some have been unable to trade since the fire.
In total, more than 100 residential properties and 84 business premises were directly impacted.
The meeting will give people the chance to ask questions, receive updates and discuss how the community can work together to recover from the fire.
A Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal was launched to help support the immediate and long-term recovery of people affected by the fire, with a donation of £50,000 from Westmorland and Furness Council.
To date, this has raised £87,303, made up of £72,000 in offline donations and more than £15,000 in online donations.
You can donate HERE.
The appeal will support people who have lost their homes and possessions to the fire and been displaced, people who are suffering hardship due to business closure linked to the fire and the loss of income to their households and if funds allow, community recovery activities
Meanwhile, Westmorland and Furness Council has released information for residents and visitors to Kirkby Lonsdale, with the message that the town remains open for business.
Image from Westmorland and Furness Council.
The fire caused significant internal and external damage to buildings near Taylor's, Save the Children, and Botanica, with unstable walls, unsupported structures, and roof elements posing immediate risks.
Demolition work has been taking place on structurally unsafe buildings, and work to secure damaged properties is continuing, until such time that the site can be handed back to the building owners.
The council said it is reviewing safety cordons to restore access where it is safe to do so. However, properties directly impacted by the fire will remain inaccessible until stabilisation work is completed.
Main Street is open again and Market Street has also re-opened to pedestrians but due to the scaffolding encroaching the highway, the road is not suitable for vehicles and remains closed to all vehicles, including for access.
Mitchelgate is open one way, and motorists are being asked to drive with care and follow the diversions and signs.
Westmorland and Furness Council said there are continuing issues with vehicles travelling the wrong way up Mitchelgate and vehicles travelling the wrong way down Main Street then vehicles meeting head on.
Police have received multiple reports of drivers deliberately driving against the one-way system, including an incident which involved a vehicle travelling the wrong way and mounting the pavement directly in front of a family using the pavement.
Mill Brow is now open to light goods vehicles and pedestrians.
A one-way traffic and weight restrictions to 3.5 tonnes is in place from the end of Ruskin Drive through Horse Market and up to the top of Mill Brow to enable a circulation of local traffic to take place as safely as possible.
Exemptions to the restrictions for emergency service vehicles will be included to ensure they have access to properties and they are able to pass the Spar and line up in the wider turning head to get down Mill Brow.
Parking bays on Main Street are suspended and coned off to deter vehicles from circling repeatedly to try and access one of a few usually available limited waiting parking spaces.
A Community Information Hub set up in St Mary’s Church has been stood down. However, a message and call back service continues to be operated by the Community Cupboard, and people are being asked to call 015242 36404 and leave a message.
The Community Cupboard remains open for support and offers of donations. Food bags can be collected anonymously from St Mary's Church or call 015242 36404.
Following discussions with the community in the immediate aftermath, Westmorland and Furness Council is offering free parking in its car parks - New Road 1, New Road 2 and Market Square – until January 14 to help support residents affected and trade in the town.
Booths have agreed to extend the temporary unrestricted parking in Wellington Court, adjacent to the A65 and before the Lunesdale Surgery (with the exception of the specified staff parking bays) until the end of January, when it will be reviewed. This does not apply to the Booths main store car park, which remains one hour free with an option to purchase a second hour as normal.
Bus services are running as normal.
A meeting for businesses has been arranged by Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, seeking views on the long-term economic recovery plan for the town.
This will be held at Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club on January 17 between 2pm and 4pm. All businesses welcome.
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