Work due to start on £840,000 improvement scheme

(Date of issue: Thursday, 3 June 2010)

Work is due to start on a £840,000 Carlisle City Council improvement scheme.

Carlisle’s ‘historic core’ is set to become much more pedestrian friendly as the work on Castle Street gets underway next Monday (7 June). The scheme, which was given the go-ahead by Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Carlisle in January, will help attract increased investment into the city as part of a package of projects for the area.

As well as becoming much more pedestrian friendly, the southern half of Castle Street will still allow through-traffic.

Castle Street, between Paternoster Row and St Mary’s Gate, will be repaved using traditional materials. Footways will be widened and repaved with Lazonby Sandstone. Existing granite kerbs are to be refurbished and the carriageway is to be narrowed and repaved with whinstone blocks. A range of high quality street furniture is to be fitted and trees adjacent to the Cathedral will be illuminated. It is expected that these enhancements will provide an attractive environment for users of the area, particularly pedestrians.

There will be some changes to how vehicles use the area, as detailed below, but following public consultation most disc parking is to be retained. Works will include:

• Castle Street to become one-way southbound between Annetwell Street and St Mary’s Gate
• Fisher Street to become two-way from its junction with Market Street to the access to Spinner’s Yard
• A no-loading restriction in West Walls between Victoria Viaduct and Heads Lane
• A “special-loading zone” with no disc parking between 8.30am and 6pm in Castle Street south of Paternoster Row, St Mary’s Gate, Fisher Street and Market Street
• Creating a motorcycle bay at the north-eastern end of Castle Street at its junction with Finkle Street.

Works are due to start in June and be completed by late October this year. Traffic and pedestrian access to the area may be slightly disrupted during the construction period, although through-traffic on Castle Street will be maintained through careful phasing of the works.

Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Local Environment, said:

“Investing in the public realm can boost tourism, attract investment, and have a positive effect on local businesses. The Castle Street improvement works will be the first of a series of exciting new developments within the city. Other City Council projects include refurbishing the Old Town Hall and visitor centre, and work to create a Roman Gallery at Tullie House, which aims to attract an extra 50,000 visitors a year.”

Carlisle City Council in partnership with Cumbria County Council and Carlisle Renaissance is funding the £840,000 scheme and will project manage the improvement works.

County Cllr John Mallinson, Chair of Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Carlisle, said:

“These improvements will allow the historic core of the city to be more pedestrian friendly and show off Carlisle’s cultural quarter to visitors to the city as well as locals.

“In approving the final scheme we listened to people’s concerns and ideas and modified the proposals appropriately.”