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There is still a
vision to regenerate Carlisle, says city council leader
Last updated at 15:19, Friday, 05 March 2010
Fierce critics of Carlisle Renaissance and there are plenty
of them may now be cheerfully convinced theyve successfully
seen off a costly mistake.
They may even be resting comfortably on their laurels, snoozing
gently in self-congratulation.
But theyd be wrong to kick off their shoes just yet. Moves
to refocus and restructure Carlisle Renaissance, reshaping from
the old disappointment an invigorated new body with revised direction
and drive, dont signal the end of the initiative rather
they mark its coming of age.
What finally emerges from the inaptly named Renaissance, following
a review by all its funding partners, is now uppermost in the minds
of all who remain anxious and impatient for overdue signs of city
regeneration.
Carlisle council leader Mike Mitchelson is perhaps one of the most
impatient. His vision for a city with style, vibrancy, population
growth, new business, more quality jobs, heightened cultural activity,
raised profile and deeper pride has been set back at several stages
and on many levels over recent months and years.
Renaissance was to have been the vehicle on which regional funding
and private sector investment was delivered directly into the heart
of Carlisle, to allow the city to blossom and flourish in a new
era of modernity and prosperity. But it didnt quite work out
that way.
Global financial crisis, deep recession, the Government pulling
funding from the university which was always key to the future
of Carlisle nobody could blame Renaissance for any of that,
Mike Mitchelson said, musing over what is looking like increasingly
urgent and challenging business ahead.
Promises made by potential private sector investors in better
financial weather, disappeared when the chill set in. Projects and
plans stalled here in Carlisle as they did everywhere. It
has been desperately frustrating.
Most disappointing has been the situation with the university.
The plan for the campus at Caldew Riverside was a great one. It
would have locked the University of Cumbria into Carlisle and brought
all the advantages we needed and wanted for growth.
When the funding plug was pulled and the university said
its Caldew Riverside flagship campus wouldnt be achievable
within 10 years and possibly not even after that, I agreed with
Bryan Gray (Renaissance chairman) that the statement had been made
too hastily.
The world can change in three days. Writing off any plan
for more than a decade and perhaps forever, on the basis of a setback
albeit a serious one is unhelpful and unrealistic.
Id have preferred a commitment that intentions were
to move to the site when circumstances changed. Id have preferred
the option still to be there.
But thats not possible now and we have to look to make
the best of whats left new mixed use tenancy for Caldew
Riverside perhaps and the sale of the Tesco Morton site on the open
market to unlock funding for other projects.
Mike Mitchelson holds onto the optimism that has so many times
forced him to revert to Plan B, turn a different corner, negotiate
a little harder with a new bargaining position.
It has also led him, on more than one occasion, publicly to defend
Carlisle Renaissance. Most recently after the failure of Carlisles
UK City of Culture bid.
Its really not for me to defend Renaissance,
he said. But I do defend its purpose. I have to. We need it
if we want to secure money for Carlisle.
The way of the world is that Renaissance is a necessary facilitator.
Without a body such as this, we are unable to seek investment
private and public money for regeneration of the city. The
quango system this government presides over makes it vital. Our
bids for cash must have the Renaissance stamp on them.
I cant and wont pre-empt the review that will
start probably within the next few weeks. But it might well be that
a restructuring will be the outcome. It might also be that we think
it best to bring the initiative under the city councils economic
development umbrella.
But whatever form it takes, what was launched as a regeneration
facilitator in 2005 will still exist. It has to. There is no alternative.
He agrees that Renaissance has failed to connect with many people
in Carlisle and that large numbers have been unable to appreciate
its role never was to lay bricks, build buildings, open theatres.
It has been said Renaissance should be renamed, rebranded
and relaunched, he said.
People arent that gullible. A change of name means
nothing. It needs to be refocused and redirected to deliver the
vision for Carlisle. And it needs to connect and be understood by
the people of Carlisle who want a result from the vision.
That vision remains in place, with or without Carlisle Renaissance,
whose role has been to secure the means for making the vision a
reality.
The vision is still for the University of Cumbria to make its headquarters
in the city.
It cant be acceptable for the University of Cumbria
to have its HQ in Lancaster.
The vision still aims to regenerate Carlisle by attracting
even incentivising new businesses into the city, bringing
new jobs and aspirational opportunities.
It still is to move forward with the ambitious Sands Centre project,
providing sports hall, conference centre, swimming pool and performance
space. It still is for that pool to replace the old council pool,
unlocking land behind the railway station for car parking and a
passenger interchange.
The vision for Carlisle still drives desire for change, improvement
and new employment at St Nicholas Gate, Botchergate and Durranhill
industrial estate; the development of a commercial and business
estate at junction 42 of the M6; exploitation of the citys
historic quarter as an attractive destination for visitors and residents
alike, capitalising on the advantages of the cathedral, castle and
Tullie House.
Botchergate is a real challenge, he said. Theres
some money available for a limited tidying-up exercise but Im
keenly aware Botchergate needs serious attention.
Whats needed is new businesses to move in there. And
of course we are all aware that the more the area declines, the
less likely it is that many will want to move in. With the best
will in the world, nobody can force companies to move into Botchergate.
But we can incentivise in a number of ways and were looking
at that.
Part of the vision for Carlisle has also been the provision of
new facilities for the vulnerable and those sometimes overlooked.
Theres new accommodation for women and children and a site
for travellers.
Perhaps more important than any of that sample of hopes, dreams
and targets for new infrastructure with accompanying cultural and
business improvements, the raising of the aspirations of citizens
forms a vital key to Carlisles future potential.
Resignation to familiar mediocrity is part and parcel of recessionary
thinking everywhere. Carlisles acceptance of the status quo
is deep-seated. It has been in place longer than this recession.
Expectations are conservative, change tends to be resisted as a
matter of course. And if that doesnt change, council management
of mediocrity will become an unhealthy inevitability.
Engagement with and enthusiasm for change is crucial if Carlisle
is to realise its potential, said the city council leader.
The city of culture bid was a case in point. We knew we wouldnt
walk away with the title on first attempt especially when
set in competition against Sheffield and Birmingham, both cities
with huge resources.
But we did manage to spark off discussion and lively debate
about what our culture was, how we would like it to evolve, how
to include more people in cultural activity. None of that was a
waste.
We were invited top join the Historic Cities Group, which
includes York and Chester. Weve also been also recognised
as an events city and have partnered Newcastle in what promises
to be the spectacular lighting of Hadrians Wall. Thats
exciting, I think.
I know well hear again that we need a theatre. Well
likely hear again we need the Lonsdale to be a theatre. But the
Save Our Lonsdale Group is now a trust and has its own opportunities
to investigate the feasibility of turning an old picture house into
a theatre capable of staging large scale productions and
of how funding to fill and sustain it, year in year out, can be
assured.
What happens in Carlisle now and in years ahead will only
come satisfactorily to fruition when people in the city get behind
change with their own motivation for deserving something better
than they have now. It simply has to happen.
Its a logical statement which brings to mind the number of
highly vocal minority groups which have and still do
block development of ambitious projects for growth. All have been
tough challenges not all of them have been insurmountable.
But they add to the sense that everything moves more slowly in Carlisle.
In the end or rather, in its newly drawn beginning
whatever Renaissance evolves into in the near future will be a critical
piece in Carlisles regeneration jigsaw.
However it is led, whoever takes on its leadership politicians
or business people the creature soon to rise from the ashes
of disappointment will still be required to tempt, beg, cajole,
negotiate and manoeuvre investment into a city sorely in need of
it. That is the way of the world. The strange quango world, from
which for the moment there is no escape.
Best not write off Renaissance just yet. Looking for its evolution,
pressing for its maturing change of nature and focus makes positive
sense.
But so long as there is a vision for a regenerated, improved and
more vibrant, vitally engaged Carlisle, Renaissance will
in some form or other be a part of the machinery necessary
to keep the citys wheels turning.
Taken from The News & Star / [Link]
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Is this the end for Carlisle Renaissance?
Last updated at 12:32, Wednesday, 03 March 2010
The days of Carlisle Renaissance which has cost taxpayers
£6.6m appear to be numbered.
The initiative launched to revitalise the city after the 2005 floods
has been beset by controversy and false starts.
Now the organisations that fund it are to review its future. They
could scrap Renaissance, relaunch it under a new name or radically
change its structure and priorities.
Cumbria County Council leader Jim Buchanan said: We have
to look at the way regeneration in Carlisle is delivered. Carlisle
Renaissance as a name has lost all credibility with people in Carlisle.
The county council is one of three bodies that pay for Renaissance.
The others are Carlisle City Council and the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), which provides most of the cash.
Mr Buchanan said the NWDA fully supported the review.
Steve Broomhead, its chief executive, told the News & Star:
It is important that the local authorities in Carlisle consider
and review the role and activities of Carlisle Renaissance, which
was created at their request.
City council leader Mike Mitchelson hinted that it might take on
Renaissances role. He said: As part of a restructuring
of our economic development directorate, we will be reviewing all
regeneration projects how they work and how they are delivered.
That does include the work and function of Carlisle Renaissance.
Renaissance was launched by John Prescott, then the Deputy Prime
Minister, in August 2005.
Consultants drew up plans for a series of city squares including
a new plaza in Rickergate and a movement strategy calling
for an inner-relief road from Botchergate to Wigton Road. Three
years later control passed from the city and county councils to
an independent board made up of public and private-sector representatives,
chaired by the then chairman of the NWDA Bryan Gray.
He quickly dropped the controversial proposal to redevelop Rickergate.
Last month Renaissances flagship scheme collapsed when the
University of Cumbria shelved plans for a campus in Viaduct Estate.
Only last week its bid to make Carlisle UK City of Culture
in 2013 was rejected by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge, intensifying
pressure on Mr Gray and the board.
The News & Stars sister paper, The Cumberland News, revealed
in January Renaissance had cost taxpayers £6.6m. Critics say
there is nothing to show for it. Carlisle MP Eric Martlew has called
for Renaissance to be wound up.
And John Stevenson, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for
Carlisle, recently called for it to be renamed.
Michael Boaden, leader of the opposition Labour group on the city
council and the man chosen to succeed Mr Martlew as Labour candidate
for Carlisle, said the review was absolutely inevitable.
Taken from The News & Star / [Link]
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Carlisle's city of culture bid failed because
it lacked 'ambition'
Last updated at 11:06, Saturday, 27 February 2010
Carlisle's bid to become UK City of Culture failed because
it lacked ambition and was unlikely to attract visitors
from across the UK or overseas.
* Video: Carlisle Renaissance bid failure press conference
Related: Fears for Carlisle Renaissance after UK City of Culture
bid fails
Related: What the judges said about Carlisle in full
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge announced on Wednesday that Carlisle
had not made the shortlist for the first UK City of Culture in 2013.
Carlisle Renaissance drew up a £5.5m programme including
a festival of light, banquet, classical and pop concerts, film festival
and a mini-Olympic games.
This failed to convince the shortlisting panel, chaired by Brookside
creator Phil Redmond, which opted or Birmingham, Londonderry, Norwich
and Sheffield.
Consultants that advised the panel have released their assessments.
They say the bid was well thought through but offered
little that would provide impact/excitement on a national
or international level.
It was building on a low base of cultural activity and
there was little evidence of involvement of national or international
artists. Lack of funding from local authorities was another
weakness.
Renaissance chairman Bryan Gray put a brave face on the announcement.
He hopes that many events planned for 2013 can still go ahead without
City of Culture status. These might include a revival of the medieval
Great Fair and an open-air ice rink. at Carlisle Castle.
Mr Gray said: We all said when we bid for City of Culture
that this was a real opportunity for Carlisle to get its cultural
act together. That has been achieved. Yes its disappointing
but we need to build on the work that has been done in bringing
together the cultural community in Carlisle and go forward in a
positive manner.
He has not ruled out a bid to become the next City of Culture in
2017.
Renaissance spent £10,000 on the bid. Had Carlisle succeeded,
it argued, the city would have received 350,000 visitors who would
have spent £10m and created up to 2,000 jobs.
Mr Gray added: If you dont try you never win.
If people take a negative view thats very sad for Carlisle.
We have to get out of this underdog approach.
The decision on City of Culture follows the collapse of Renaissances
flagship scheme for a university campus in Viaduct Estate.
John Stevenson, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Carlisle,
is calling for the initiative to be renamed and for politicians
rather than its unelected board to take a leading
role.
Taken from The News & Star / [Link]
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