The end of an era has been revealed as shoe company Clarks confirmed plans to close its Kendal distribution centre by the end of the year.

Staff have received a letter, seen by The Westmorland Gazette, announcing plans to close and decommission the site, subject to consultation, with 53 jobs at risk.

Operations are set to move to the firm's distribution centres at Street in Somerset and Venlo in the Netherlands by the end of the year.

A Clarks spokesman said: “Kendal has been, and always will be, of great importance to Clarks, having played a significant role in our history.

“Following a meaningful consultation with Community the Union, we have taken the difficult decision to close our distribution centre in Kendal.

“Our Kendal operations will move to our distribution centres at Street, Somerset, and Venlo, Netherlands by the end of 2021.

“We have a strong duty of care to our employees and will ensure they are fully supported during this time.

“Clarks is committed to leaving a positive legacy in Kendal and will encourage the site to be used to create opportunities which will benefit the area.”

The move would end a long association with Kendal going back to the 19th century through K Shoes, which was later taken over by then C&J Clark in 1981.

Shoe manufacturing at the former K Shoes site stopped in 2003 but Clarks maintained a presence in the town with the distribution centre.

Tim Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said it was 'very sad news' and that his thoughts were with those affected.

“I hope that Clarks will work with union representatives to support these workers and help them find new jobs and also work with South Lakeland District Council so that the site can be used to create new opportunities for Kendal," he added.

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for economy, culture and leisure, said: “First and foremost, we feel for the people affected by this closure and facing an uncertain future.

"We have sought and been given assurances that Clarks has been in discussions with union representatives and there will be liaisons with Job Centre Plus to help the workforce find alternative jobs.”

“SLDC has committed to working with Clarks to mitigate the impact on those affected.

"We are also exploring what kind of legacy Clarks would consider leaving, given its long association with Kendal, as well as looking at how we can encourage innovative use of the Clarks site to create opportunities to benefit Kendal and the wider area.”

Former worker Ian Kell, who lives in sight of the old K warehouse, said he had been able to see the writing on the wall.

“I worked for K for 17 years, 1975 to 1992," he said.

"I am a K pensioner and Clarks shareholder. There is still a ‘diaspora’ of ex-K management in and around the area."

He added: "This brings to an end the unbroken tradition of shoe trading in the area going back to 1845.

"K Shoes were one of the biggest single manufacturer employers, certainly in Kendal, for many years, and probably in the whole of Cumbria, with factories in Kendal, Shap, Askam, Barrow, Millom, and Workington, plus Lancaster and Norwich factories and 235 K Shoe shops nationwide and abroad.

"All factories were closed by the mid-1990s, but there must still be thousands of K/Clarks pensioners in Cumbria, many of who are also shareholders."

In May, Clarks announced almost 1,000 redundancies across the global business over the coming 18 months, as part of the next phase of its 'Made to Last' strategy.

Group profit before tax was £17.3m in 2019/20, compared with a loss of £82.9m the previous year.

Turnover was about £1.38bn, down from £1.4bn the year before.

The group had about 10,000 employees worldwide at the end of the financial year 2019/20, of which about 7,000 were in the UK and Republic of Ireland.