The town has seen a number of road changes

Previous changes have meant many passengers giving up buses and Stagecoach says it cannot afford to subsidise the Cumbrian town's network.

Cumbria County Council officials have proposed changes including giving pedestrians priority in the main shopping street.

Earlier this week, council officials unveiled a consultants' report warning that Kendal's traffic would suffer unacceptable congestion within five years unless there was a big reduction in car use.

Stagecoach has added its support to a proposal to ban all but buses, delivery lorries and disabled drivers from Stricklandgate, and reverse the flow of the remaining traffic.

But Stagecoach has now effectively set a deadline for the proposals to go through.

The managing director, Nigel Barratt, said the firm cannot afford to continue propping up loss-making services.

Unless councillors agree to the changes starting next April cuts will be made, he said.