Local residents, businesses, commuters and visitors are being given the opportunity to have their say on ambitious new plans for Carlisle Railway Station and its surrounding area. The public consultation is underway now and there’s just over 2 weeks left to have a say.
The plans can be seen at The Lanes Shopping Centre in Carlisle this Friday and Saturday between 9am – 5pm where members of the project team will be available to chat and listen to feedback.
A display is also in place at Carlisle Railway Station and full details are available online at www.cumbria.gov.uk/CSGC.
Councillor Stewart Young, Leader of Cumbria County Council said: “Our plans to improve Carlisle Railway Station are in the early stages of development and we want to gather people’s views and ideas to help us shape plans as they progress. We want to make sure we design a scheme that meets the needs of the station’s users, as well as enhance the attractiveness of the station as the gateway to Carlisle city centre and the wider Borderlands area.
“The Government has allocated £15 million of funding through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal as the first phase of the Carlisle Station Gateway and Citadels project, subject to a business case being approved to secure this investment.”
The project is being developed jointly by Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council working with Network Rail and Cumbria LEP as key partners. By improving the Railway Station and its facilities, partners want to encourage visitors to come again, help young people to stay, make the station work better for the public, and stimulate investment in Carlisle.
Councillor John Mallinson, Leader of Carlisle City Council, said: “The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal will provide transformational change for the city. The Carlisle Station Gateway and Citadels project is one of the first schemes to progress to this stage and could provide opportunities to improve the parking and access points, as well as creating investment opportunities.
“We want to make the most of the station and its surrounding areas and want to hear how residents, businesses and users of the Railway Station think the area could be improved. This is an exciting time for the city, and we encourage everyone with an interest in the station to take part in the consultation.”
John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, added: “The Borderlands Initiative has proved to be very successful for our region; in terms of investment from Government and demonstrating how neighbouring councils can work in partnership to achieve the support necessary for key projects. Improvements to Carlisle Railway Station and the Citadels area is just one of these projects that the Borderlands Initiative has secured. This project will be of real benefit to Carlisle and I look forward to seeing the final proposals.”
Carlisle Railway Station is a key part of the national rail network and accommodates more than two million passengers every year, acting as a major interchange for the entire Borderlands region and providing access to branch-line services from the West Coast Mainline to the Cumbrian Coast, Tyne Valley, Settle to Carlisle and Glasgow and South Western lines.
The consultation is open now allowing the public to have their say on plans to improve connectivity and access for Carlisle and the Borderlands. By improving access, parking, shops and cafes, facilities and onward travel options at Carlisle Railway Station, it will boost the appeal of the city centre and support passenger growth.
Find out more at www.cumbria.gov.uk/CSGC.
