Plans and ideas to transform Whitehaven were discussed by town leaders this week.
Discussions took place during a workshop held by an expert from the Government’s High Streets Task Force held and involved senior council, business and community leaders.
As a result of the meeting, the task force will now recommend additional support and a route-map to progress work further.
Sonia Cubrilo, who has over 30 years of practical experience regenerating and revitalising town centres, is an appointed expert of the High Streets Task Force and led the three-hour event.
During the day, she heard directly from stakeholders about their aspirations for Whitehaven.
Sonia also met with senior representatives from the local authority, including the leader of Cumberland Council, Councillor Mark Fryer, businesses and community groups, to explain and explore local issues and ways of tackling them.
The event – and the expert report that has come from it – is part of a package of support that the area will continue to receive after it was selected by Government in 2022 as one of a second group of 68 places to work directly with the High Streets Task Force.
Sonia added: “It was great for the High Street Task Force to deliver this workshop and have strong representation from Cumberland Council, Whitehaven Town Council, businesses and communities who all gave up their valuable time on Monday to rethink regeneration for Whitehaven.
“Developing collaborative partnerships can make a real difference to the town centre. The key message that I always leave participants with is a quote from Bernard Shaw – “don’t wait for the right opportunity: create it.”
“Lots of places have started to do just that up and down the country, and those opportunities await Whitehaven too.”
The Task Force will continue to work with Cumberland Council through the coming months in a bid to provide a range of services to support transformation in the area.
The workshop aimed to meet the following objectives:
- Provide an understanding of the challenges.
- Explore the strengths of Whitehaven and the role of effective partnerships, with businesses and the wider community to build capacity for change.
- Enable key Town Centre stakeholders to understand their roles and responsibilities for improving the Town Centre.
- Develop the key actions required to take things to the next stage.
Leader of Cumberland Council, councillor Mark Fryer said: “The workshop was a great opportunity for local stakeholders, businesses and other local groups to meet and share ideas. They have a wealth of experience which they were given the opportunity to share.
“This is the beginning of a new collaborative process of working together, building wider ownership, to attract more resources into the area and help the town centre reach its full potential, ensuring that the offer of the town remains vibrant.”
