£2.37million plans to boost Carlisle tourism
(Date of issue: Monday, 23 November 2009)
Go ahead given for Roman Gallery bid
Multi-million plans for a new Roman Gallery and tourism trail
linking in with Hadrian’s Wall took another step forward today
(Monday, 23 November).
Carlisle City Council’s Executive Committee gave the go-ahead
for funding bids, totalling £1.9million, to be submitted to the
European Regional Development Fund and North West Regional
Development Agency. The overall scheme will cost £2.37million and
will include:
A new Roman Gallery that aims to create a contemporary
world-class, must-see attraction at the western end of Hadrian’s
Wall. The new 400m² space will use the existing Millennium gallery
space and will include cutting-edge interactive technology to
explore the concepts of frontiers, focusing on the Roman Empire,
Carlisle, and Hadrian's Wall. It will include five narrative
themes: On the Edge of Europe’s Largest Empire; The Dynamic
Frontier; Britain as an Imperial Province; Real Life in Roman
Carlisle and The Living Wall; and
A tourism trail that will complement the new gallery and link in
with the Hadrian’s Wall path. This would include interpretative
features that will illustrate the city’s strong association with
its Roman heritage. Way-markers, art-work and features will be
designed to reflect the materials and history of Hadrian’s Wall and
its forts.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:
"The new gallery and tourism trial would allow us
to capitalise on our strong Roman heritage and would attract
international, as well as national visitors, to the city. The
submission of the funding bids is a major step forward for the
schemes and if successful, will provide a significant boost to our
local economy."
It is proposed that the City Council provides £260,000 towards
the project. Capital funding bids to the North West Regional
Development Agency (NWDA) and European Regional Development Funds
(ERDF) will be sought for the remaining funding. Revenue funding
bids will also be sought from the NWDA, ERDF and the Hadrian’s Wall
Heritage Ltd.
If the funding bids are agreed, the new Roman Gallery is planned
to be open by spring 2011.