Campaigners’ joy at Renaissance rethink
Last updated 11:43, Monday, 21 July 2008

SAVE Our Streets campaigners have welcomed a pledge to review the Renaissance plans to reshape Carlisle.

The group was formed to oppose the demolition of homes as part of a redevelopment of Rickergate.

Now Bryan Gray, chairman of the new Carlisle Renaissance board, has hinted those plans will be shelved.

He wants a reappraisal of Renaissance, which was launched as a response to the 2005 floods.

And he says any proposals must have public support.

“That stops you getting into sterile arguments about knocking things down,” Mr Gray said. “Why are we arguing about something that may never happen because it’s not sensible?”

Save Our Streets met Mr Gray last week.

Secretary Elizabeth Allnutt said: “We are still a little sceptical but we think his comments about not imposing things on people and taking time to get things right are excellent. He seems to want to get back to first base, which is very good.”

Carlisle MP Eric Martlew has been a long-standing critic of the slow pace of Renaissance. He too accepts Mr Gray’s argument that a rethink is necessary.

But he said: “They haven’t got a long time to reassess.

The Labour opposition on Carlisle City Council called for a rethink before the May elections. Group leader Michael Boaden is encouraged by Mr Gray’s stance.

He said: “I agree with him and hope this does finally mean an end to the current proposals for Rickergate.

“It is time to bring an end to that threat, which the council has kept going despite all the opposition.”

The council’s leader, Conservative Mike Mitchelson, denied there had been firm proposals to knock down buildings in Rickergate.

He said: “There were suggestions, no detailed plans.”

Mr Mitchelson is one of two council representatives on the board chaired by Mr Gray. He added: “We are looking at strengthening the city-centre offer.”

Stewart Young, the opposition Labour leader on Cumbria County Council, also praised Mr Gray’s intervention.

The board has identified four “transformational actions” – a riverside campus for the University of Cumbria, maximising the potential of the “historic quarter” by the cathedral, creating employment sites near the M6 and strengthening the city centre.

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]

Renaissance chief: Rethink city vision
Last updated 08:35, Friday, 18 July 2008

The new chairman of Carlisle Renaissance is calling for a rethink of the plans to revitalise the city.

Bryan Gray says there must be broad consensus on what Renaissance is trying to achieve before work starts.

And he hinted that the most controversial scheme, involving demolition of much of Rickergate, would be shelved.

That will be music to the ears of the Save Our Streets group, which is campaigning to save homes in Warwick Street.

Mr Gray said: “Up to now we’ve produced lots of action plans and reports. That’s not the way to get things done.

“We need to take stock, pause, reflect, agree priorities and then move forward with the city’s agreement and support.

“You can’t impose the kind of things we want to do.

“It’s not about having votes and narrow majorities. It’s about taking people with you and doing sensible things.

“That stops you getting into sterile arguments about knocking things down.

“Why are we arguing about something that may never happen because it’s not sensible?”

Mr Gray is chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency and has a strong track record in industry.

He also has a reputation as an innovator and ideas man.

He was recently appointed as chairman of the private-sector led Carlisle Renaissance board whose members met for the first time last Friday.

This has taken over control of Renaissance from Carlisle city and Cumbria county councils.

A statement issued after the meeting said the board had agreed on four “transformational actions” that should “form the heart of the Renaissance agenda”. These are:

* A riverside campus for the University of Cumbria in Viaduct Estate;

* Maximising potential of the ‘historic quarter’ around the castle, cathedral and Tullie House Museum;

* New employment sites at the M6 junctions at Kingstown, Rosehill and Carleton;

* Strengthening commercial activity in the city centre, which is likely to involve new offices and a hotel.

But there was no specific mention of the Rickergate Plaza proposals that sparked the Save Our Streets campaign.

Mr Gray argues that, once priorities are decided, schemes will fall into place. For instance, if expanding the shopping centre is the aim, you look where to put new shops.

He said: “My experience tells me that there is a way of doing it. You start with what you are trying to achieve and ask ‘What will success look like?’.

“Often people start at the other end. They see that a particular site is available and talk about that. You get lost in the back streets without knowing where you’re going.”

He sees huge untapped potential in Carlisle.

“I think it’s a great city that’s not appreciated by people who live here or visit,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic place. Why does no-one know about it?

“There’s the heritage aspect. Shopping facilities are good. Public transport is good. The road system is good.”

Mr Gray argues that the historic quarter needs to become more than the sum of its parts.

He said: “It has four critical assets – the cathedral, Tullie House, the castle and Hadrian’s Wall. Add the four together, do you get something better?”

He supports the city council’s economic strategy to increase the population but does not see flights from Carlisle Airport as “fundamental” to prosperity.

He also takes a relaxed view of traffic congestion, dismissing the idea it will hinder Renaissance.

He said: “People complain but go to Manchester or Liverpool or Warrington and see what real congestion is like.

“We have to be careful we don’t prioritise something that isn’t as big a problem as we think it is.

“Are we too introverted, looking at our situation and comparing it with the way it was instead of saying, ‘can we live with that?’.”

Carlisle MP Eric Martlew and others have criticised the slow progress of Renaissance, which was launched as a response to the 2005 floods.

Mr Gray is in no hurry, however. He added: “If you rush you get it wrong. This is a once-in-several-generations opportunity to map out the future. To spend a year getting clarity, I’m not apologising for that.”

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]

£20 a day to park in Carlisle city centre
Last updated 08:04, Friday, 04 July 2008

The cost of parking a car in Carlisle city centre could rise to £15 or £20 a day if park and ride is introduced.

A Carlisle Renaissance study says charges will have to triple to persuade motorists to leave their cars on the edge of the city and travel in by bus.

It proposes that an hour in a city-centre car park, currently 80p, should cost £2.20.

Two hours, now £1.60, would rise to £4.30, three hours from £2.40 to £6.50 and four hours from £3.20 to £8.60. The price of an annual parking permit would increase from £672 to £1,800.

The report also proposes charging for on-street parking in the centre between 8am and 8pm at the same rates, with a maximum stay of two hours.

The findings outraged city and county councillors when they were tabled at a transport advisory group this week.

Dalston Liberal Democrat Trevor Allison predicted that such increases would drive shoppers away from Carlisle.

He said: “Increased fuel costs and punitive parking charges to underpin park and ride would have a serious impact on the city centre. It would be absolutely disastrous.”

And Labour’s Cyril Weber said: “No politician in his right mind is going to put charges up this amount. They would be voted out at the next election.

“The roads in Carlisle aren’t suited. It won’t work and it’s a waste of money.”

Cumbria County Council has long had plans for park and ride but has lacked the money to implement them.

Secure car parks at Morton, Rosehill and Kingstown would be served by frequent shuttle buses to the city centre.

The county’s transport policy manager, Jonathan Smith, told councillors that Carlisle Renaissance would put park and ride back on the agenda.

He said: “Park and ride at this stage clearly isn’t something that is required. The levels of traffic congestion and capacity of car parks in the city don’t warrant it.

“However, if developments take place along the lines proposed by the Renaissance project, the city is going to become a busier and bigger place.”

Even Stagecoach has doubts that park and ride is suitable for Carlisle. Operations manager Bob Cook told the advisory group that park and ride worked best where there were continuous bus lanes but the arterial roads in Carlisle were not wide enough to allow this.

The report on parking was prepared for the county council by Capita Symonds. It argues that Renaissance schemes to redevelop Rickergate and Viaduct Estate will create a shortfall of 2,000 parking spaces in the city centre.

Capita recommends that, rather than build more car parks in the centre, the council should opt for park and ride.

Its report says: “It is essential that parking on the periphery is significantly cheaper than the city centre to make this an attractive option.”

The report calls for staged increases in parking charges over several years.

“If costs are increased too rapidly,” it adds, “there is the effect of deterring parking in the city centre without providing a viable alternative.”

The maximum charge for parking all day is currently £4.80 in long-stay and £7.50 in short-stay car parks. These fees would rise to £15 and £20 respectively.

Capita Symonds has also produced reports on improving pedestrian and cycle routes, and bus services.

Its proposals include two £1m schemes to revamp the underpass at Hardwicke Circus and improve access to Town Dyke Orchard car park.

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]