By Julian Whittle Political Editor

Last updated at 08:35, Friday, 18 July 2008

The new chairman of Carlisle Renaissance is calling for a rethink of the plans to revitalise the city.

Bryan Gray

Bryan Gray says there must be broad consensus on what Renaissance is trying to achieve before work starts.

And he hinted that the most controversial scheme, involving demolition of much of Rickergate, would be shelved.

That will be music to the ears of the Save Our Streets group, which is campaigning to save homes in Warwick Street.

Mr Gray said: “Up to now we’ve produced lots of action plans and reports. That’s not the way to get things done.

“We need to take stock, pause, reflect, agree priorities and then move forward with the city’s agreement and support.

“You can’t impose the kind of things we want to do.

“It’s not about having votes and narrow majorities. It’s about taking people with you and doing sensible things.

“That stops you getting into sterile arguments about knocking things down.

“Why are we arguing about something that may never happen because it’s not sensible?”

Mr Gray is chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency and has a strong track record in industry.

He also has a reputation as an innovator and ideas man.

He was recently appointed as chairman of the private-sector led Carlisle Renaissance board whose members met for the first time last Friday.

This has taken over control of Renaissance from Carlisle city and Cumbria county councils.

A statement issued after the meeting said the board had agreed on four “transformational actions” that should “form the heart of the Renaissance agenda”. These are:

• A riverside campus for the University of Cumbria in Viaduct Estate;

• Maximising potential of the ‘historic quarter’ around the castle, cathedral and Tullie House Museum;

• New employment sites at the M6 junctions at Kingstown, Rosehill and Carleton;

• Strengthening commercial activity in the city centre, which is likely to involve new offices and a hotel.

But there was no specific mention of the Rickergate Plaza proposals that sparked the Save Our Streets campaign.

Mr Gray argues that, once priorities are decided, schemes will fall into place. For instance, if expanding the shopping centre is the aim, you look where to put new shops.

He said: “My experience tells me that there is a way of doing it. You start with what you are trying to achieve and ask ‘What will success look like?’.

“Often people start at the other end. They see that a particular site is available and talk about that. You get lost in the back streets without knowing where you’re going.”

He sees huge untapped potential in Carlisle.

“I think it’s a great city that’s not appreciated by people who live here or visit,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic place. Why does no-one know about it?

“There’s the heritage aspect. Shopping facilities are good. Public transport is good. The road system is good.”

Mr Gray argues that the historic quarter needs to become more than the sum of its parts.

He said: “It has four critical assets – the cathedral, Tullie House, the castle and Hadrian’s Wall. Add the four together, do you get something better?”

He supports the city council’s economic strategy to increase the population but does not see flights from Carlisle Airport as “fundamental” to prosperity.

He also takes a relaxed view of traffic congestion, dismissing the idea it will hinder Renaissance.

He said: “People complain but go to Manchester or Liverpool or Warrington and see what real congestion is like.

“We have to be careful we don’t prioritise something that isn’t as big a problem as we think it is.

“Are we too introverted, looking at our situation and comparing it with the way it was instead of saying, ‘can we live with that?’.”

Carlisle MP Eric Martlew and others have criticised the slow progress of Renaissance, which was launched as a response to the 2005 floods.

Mr Gray is in no hurry, however. He added: “If you rush you get it wrong. This is a once-in-several-generations opportunity to map out the future. To spend a year getting clarity, I’m not apologising for that.”

First published at 05:31, Friday, 18 July 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk