A controversial pop-up park in the centre of Carlisle will be removed to make way for the city’s festive celebrations.
The temporary installation, paid for by the Government’s Welcome Back Fund, in the Greenmarket has been in place since the spring and was produced so it could be removed and used elsewhere when needed.
While it was used by thousands of people, it also attracted some criticism and was attacked by vandals.
The area will be closed for two weeks for the installation to be removed. The planters and seats will be used as part of a project in Bitts Park. Other items will be stored for future use.
It is being removed in preparation for a packed programme of events, including the Remembrance commemorations next month and festive events.
The city centre’s Christmas tree will be installed in the Greenmarket in advance of the Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday November 20 and a 40-stall Christmas market will be held between December 2 and 11.
Meanwhile, Carlisle residents and businesses will be asked to have their say on how the city centre’s Market Square and Greenmarket could look in the future later this year.
A public consultation is planned and follow on from the stage one consultation held in the summer.
Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council are working together to deliver a reimagined public square that puts people first, prioritising pedestrian movement and encouraging residents, workers and visitors to stay longer in the city centre.
The project is part of a wider city centre plan which includes investment in the Citadel, Caldew Riverside and Carlisle Railway Station.
Together with the Market Square and the Greenmarket, these projects aim to rejuvenate the city centre and improve the visitor experience.
This funding for this project is provided by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund and £2.7m is available to deliver the scheme with the aim to begin work by March 2024.
