RESIDENTS have hit out at a proposal from Kendal Judo Club to site new quarter-of-a-million pound premises on their doorstep, reports Jennie Dennett.

Some 77 people from Kendal's Rinkfield Estate have signed a petition objecting to the judo club's idea to build a new centre at land off Burland Grove. Fourteen people supported the plan.

"We don't want it, we don't need it and we will fight it," said Len Edgar, vice chairman of the Rinkfield Residents Association.

As reported in the Westmorland Gazette last week, the judo club is interested in the site having outgrown its premises at New Inn Yard. The club is looking to consolidate its success, which has led to four juniors being accepted to the national squad, and expand the membership to 1,000 people.

It had discussed the redevelopment idea with South Lakeland District Council and suggested buying the Burland Grove land, which has been allocated for affordable housing, offering up their existing centre for conversion into flats instead.

Only the top floor of their existing premises would be converted - the ground and middle floors occupied respectively by Highgate Fitness Centre and Underley School would continue to operate from the building.

"My business is not affected by anything they do," said Andy Poole, director of the Highgate Fitness Centre, who assured customers that the gym would remain due to its 99-year lease on its part of the property.

And this week SLDC issued an official statement saying Kendal Judo Club's plan was "just one option" it was considering and stressed that the authority had not been negotiating a deal to sell the land to the sports group.

Last week, The Westmorland Gazette reported that a behind-the-scenes deal was about to be concluded between the council and the club. This was based on information supplied by a judo club official.

But in a statement released this week Sue Barton, the director of Environment and Housing, said: "As a local authority open to public scrutiny, the council does not participate in behind-the-scenes deals' or trade-offs'." SLDC stressed that the site was still allocated for affordable housing and would remain so "unless there are substantial reasons why it is not suitable".

Northern-based housing association Two Castles is currently undertaking a survey of the land to establish whether it will be feasible for housing and of what design. The outcome is expected in the New Year.

Several other approaches have also been made for alternative uses of the land, including plans from residents for a bowling green, skatepark and community centre.

"The relocation of Kendal Judo Club is just one option put forward and being kept in reserve in case the affordable housing scheme does not proceed," Ms Barton said. "The future of the site is still very much under consideration."

Coun Gwen Murfin, who represents the area, said: "I want to categorically reassure the residents that there have been no underhand deals at all and there has been no decision made about the land. There will be thousands of hoops to go through before any decisions are made."

Meanwhile, the majority of residents have made it clear that they would not welcome the judo club centre on the Rinkfield Estate.

"The traffic in itself is going to be a mega problem," said mother-of-five Sherralyn Clement, Rinkfield Resident's Association joint-treasurer. "As a residents association, we have been trying to deal with the traffic problems we have got already."