Start date for work on Carlisle university campus
Last updated 15:43, Tuesday, 26 May 2009

Building work on a new university campus for Carlisle could begin next year and open by 2013.

Renaissance bosses say complex site investigations have to be completed before building work can start on a new University of Cumbria campus – and that’s what’s taking the time.

Criticism has been levelled at the scheme – which promised to rejuvenate Carlisle following the floods of 2005 – as little physical progress has been made.

Ian McNichol, director of Carlisle Renaissance, said: “At the moment we are completing site investigations to determine the extent of remediation works required before it can be developed on. This is largely because the site was previously used as a gas works.

“Work to remediate the site is expected to begin next spring, so building would begin 2010 to 2011.

“Renaissance is helping facilitate and develop the university’s plans for a new campus.

“This would allow the university to progress with a 200,000ft development, accommodating a new headquarters, faculties of the arts, business and social sciences, student services and other community facilities.

“Securing a first-class new learning and teaching environment would be great news for Carlisle – enhancing the university’s ability to attract and retain more young people to the city, as well as improving the existing skills base.

“Properties to the north of the Lower Viaduct car park site, including the indoor bowling club, are not included in the development area.

“This is a complex development scheme in the heart of the city centre.

“It’s a sensitive environment, overlooked by West Walls and along the river corridor.

“A great deal of work must be done to put in place a plan that responds to these issues.

“It is particularly important that we address all the transport implications, particularly in terms of access and the loss of two car parks.

“The current programme is for the university to open in 2012 to 2013.”

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

Who earns what in Cumbria revealed
Last updated 08:39, Friday, 22 May 2009

Many public servants earn more than MPs, whose current salary is £64,766. Examples of annual salaries within public bodies from around the county include:

Cumbria’s director of public health Professor John Ashton: £225,000 to £230,000 (£114,000 coming from NHS Cumbria and the remainder from central funding)

Cumbria County Council Chief Executive Peter Stybelski: £160,000 to £170,000

County Council adult and cultural services director Jill Stannard: £100,000 to £109,000

Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison: £100,000 to £109,000

Carlisle City Council chief executive Maggie Mooney: £104,462

City council deputy chief executive Jason Gooding: £77,659

Carlisle Renaissance programme director Ian McNichol: £71,000

Director of legal and democratic services John Egan: £69,177

Director of community service at Carlisle City Council, Mike Battersby: £69,177

A newly qualified NHS nurse typically earns around £20,000.

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

Carlisle's 'historic core' cash may now be spent elsewhere
Last updated 08:52, Friday, 15 May 2009

More than £800,000 earmarked to improve the area around Carlisle Cathedral could be spent on industrial estates instead.

Carlisle City Council proposals to cut traffic and do away with on-street disc parking were knocked back by Cumbria County Council last month.

The county’s Carlisle local committee has blocked the changes until a parking strategy is in place and access to Devonshire Walk car park is improved.

Now the city council says it may spend the £838,000 on “other projects”.

Ray Bloxham, spokesman for environment and infrastructure, said: “If we wait until there’s a scheme for Devonshire Walk car park and the money to do it, I fear it will be an awful long time. The money may well be better used to help alleviate economic problems on our industrial estates.”

Proposals for the so-called ‘historic core’, between Greenmarket and Castle Way, were tabled in 2007 as part of Carlisle Renaissance. The scheme has been altered several times and been bedevilled by false starts.

City council leader Mike Mitchelson promised last June that work would begin “in the autumn”.

The latest plans were criticised by shop owners worried they might lose trade.

The proposals would have scrapped 71 one-hour disc-parking spaces, made Castle Street one-way southbound and allowed two-way traffic in part of Fisher Street.

Pavements in Castle Street would have been relayed with Lazonby sandstone flags.

Mr Bloxham added: “I think it’s a missed opportunity. When the University of Cumbria comes [into Viaduct Estate], the area will have a new lease of life.

“The idea of this scheme was to stop it being a huge roundabout and car park and to make the area more attractive.”

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

£30 million boost for Cumbria's green businesses
Last updated 13:00, Wednesday, 06 May 2009

A £30 million package to boost Cumbria’s ‘green economy’ has been unveiled.

The cash, delivered through the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), will support a range of initiatives to help north west businesses grasp opportunities provided by the switch to environmentally-conscious production methods.

NWDA chairman Bryan Gray revealed that the fund will provide £3.3m towards two business support initiatives.

A further £4.4m has been approved for a programme helping small businesses fund investments in the most environmentally-friendly equipment.

And £2.2m has been approved for research and development to encourage the development of carbon-emission-reducing technologies. That cash will be bolstered by a further £20m of support from other sources, including the private sector,

The programmes are part of the Government’s Solutions for Business package, which is designed to help firms “start, survive and succeed”.

Mr Gray, who also heads the Carlisle Renaissance regeneration board, said: “This package of measures supports the move towards a low-carbon economy and supplements a number of initiatives already in place to reduce the impact of climate change and increase innovation within the region.

“The NWDA recognises that in today’s challenging economic climate it is more important than ever before that we are not sidetracked from the Government’s agenda to hit its targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases.

“The recent budget announcement to cut carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 must begin with local and regional action, by supporting low-carbon industries and investing in energy-efficiency schemes for homes, businesses and public organisations.”

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