SLDC celebrates after Kendal Community Toilet Scheme commended at Awards

31 July 2012

SLDC is celebrating success after its Kendal Community Toilet Scheme was commended at the Market Town Awards for being highly transferable between other authorities.  The scheme, launched by Kendal Futures and SLDC in March 2011, asked local businesses to let visitors to the area use their toilet facilities.

Ten businesses have adopted the scheme which aims to increase the number of toilet facilities’ available as well as the number of visitors to the businesses. The scheme has been successfully adopted in 20 other areas across the UK.

SLDC and Kendal Futures also saw success in two other categories at the awards for projects they had supported.  Kendal Mountain Festival was the winner of the Environment and Culture Category.  The event is now the world’s largest Mountain Film Festival and draws £1.2 – £2 million into the local economy.

Kendal College was the winner of the Partnership and Strategic Working Category for its redevelopment project. 

In 2009, the college started the redevelopment a brownfield site, creating an iconic new building, The Box, which was completed in May 2011. The Box offers state of the art performance space and is also available for community use. 

They took on the management of Kendal’s museum – extending its opening hours and Kendal’s oldest building – the Grade 1 listed Castle Dairy, which had been empty for many years.  By operating and managing Kendal Museum and the Castle Dairy, the college is ensuring that the buildings are hopefully secure for future generations to enjoy.

The Action for Market Towns National Awards is an important showcase for what can be achieved by effective local regeneration programmes. They give recognition to the dedication and hard work of these organisations and encourage others to follow these examples, by sharing these successful projects with other towns across the UK, as case studies of best practice.

SLDC Leader, Cllr Peter Thornton, said: “This is great news for Kendal and highlights the dedication and hard work by these organisations. The Action for Market Towns National Awards is an important showcase for what can be achieved by such effective local regeneration programmes.”