Responding to Local Need

Carlisle Renaissance

Neighbourhood forums are used as a means of working with others where we share the same concerns.

In Carlisle, there is now a strong local partnership between the City and County Councils to work with local people on the development of the Carlisle Renaissance Strategy, following the floods of January 2005. 

As part of a programme of consultation, the City Council has used 12 Neighbourhood Forum meetings across the city, to give details about the process of regeneration and to ask people their views on the general principles of the plan. 

Fifteen public meetings have been held from October 2005 attended by 1200 local residents.   From this initial prospectus proposals are being developed which will then be formed into viable options and presented to the community in the summer of 2006. Initial results from this public consultation show widespread support for plans to rejuvenate Carlisle after the floods.

The findings of the consultation exercises have also identified a real opportunity the usage of public transport in the city, which will undoubtedly need to be part of any longer-term strategy to reduce traffic congestion. There also appears to be some support for removing traffic altogether from some areas of the city centre and improved pedestrian routes and pedestrianisation of more of the city centre areas.

Over 2,000 people attended exhibitions and more than 1,500 people took part in a survey and 1,200 completed questionnaires during January and February 2006. In addition focus groups for businesses, young people and other interested groups were held. 

The results of the consultation are being used to draw up detailed plans, which should be ready by the spring 2006. These in turn will go out to consultation.

it is estimated that the Carlisle Renaissance could bring 1,600 jobs and attract £180m in private investment. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is backing the plans and has twice visited Carlisle to help launch the scheme.

Further information about neighbourhood forums and other community engagement activity in the Carlisle Area can be found at out web site below.