This article appears as part of a paid partnership with Josh MacAlister, the Labour Party’s Parliamentary candidate for Whitehaven & Workington
Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, has launched a survey seeking ideas from Whitehaven residents to make the town the Whitby of the west.
The survey has already received over 200 responses, with ideas ranging from very simple things like cleaning up the streets and the frontages of empty shops, introducing more regular police patrols and reviewing parking charges, to more ambitious proposals to bring empty buildings back into use, attract more tourists into the town and better integrate the harbour into the town centre.
One issue mentioned by lots of respondents is the need to tackle business rates, which price many new businesses out of the town centre. Labour has committed to abolishing business rates and replacing them with a fairer system, Josh said.
Josh said: “Whitehaven is a beautiful town with so much potential. It is a difficult time for the high street, but there are lots of examples, like Whitby, which have bucked the trend. Why can’t Whitehaven be one of them? It has all the right ingredients.
“There are already some positive things happening, like the Edge and the new digital and gaming hub, and there are some quick wins we should be able to deliver easily without additional resources, but we need a detailed, long-term masterplan for the regeneration of the whole town centre.
“I want to hear the ideas of local people who use the town about how they think it should be improved and then I’ll lobby local decision makers, business investors and national government to get the resources and levers we need to make it happen.
“If I’m elected as your MP, this is the sort of thing I’ll do. Get people around the table, knock on doors in Westminster, be a champion for our area, and bang the drum for West Cumbria at every opportunity.”
Have your say
How can we make Whitehaven the Whitby of the west?
That’s the question I want your help to answer! Whitehaven is a brilliant town but it’s on its knees. I want to work with residents, businesses and the council to develop a detailed plan to get it back on its feet and thriving.
The survey can be completed at https://joshforwestcumbria.co.uk/whitehaven
Meeting to discuss ideas to make Whitehaven shine
Josh is hosting a public meeting with Emma Williamson, deputy leader of Cumberland Council, open to all Whitehaven residents to discuss the ideas raised.
It will be held on Thursday, May 23 at Whitehaven Civic Hall from 7pm to 9pm.
Come along to share your concerns, put your questions to local decision makers and join a future-focused discussion about how we can improve the town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.
All Whitehaven residents and business owners are welcome to attend but registration is essential.
To register, visit https://joshforwestcumbria.co.uk/whitehaven-meeting/
