By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 11:25, Monday, 25 February 2008

CARLISLE City Council has rejected calls for a public debate on its plans to redevelop Rickergate.

Answers demanded: Save Our Streets campaigners are awaiting the findings of the public inquiry into the Carlisle local plan

The Save Our Streets group says the public should have a say on the Carlisle Renaissance scheme for a square, shops, offices and a hotel.

The group is opposed to the demolition of homes in Warwick Street, which is an integral part of the proposal.

The plan also involves knocking down the Civic Centre, magistrates court and police and fire stations.

Save Our Streets spokesman Simon Osman said: “We want a full open debate on Carlisle Renaissance, in the same way as we had a debate on the Millennium proposals at the Sands Centre in 1998.”

Around 1,000 people attended that event – most hostile to the council’s Millennium plans, which included Louvre-style glass pyramids outside Tullie House.

Council leader Mike Mitchelson said he had no plans for a similar debate on the Renaissance proposals.

He added: “Everything is on hold until the results of the local plan inquiry are made public [next month]. We will take stock then.”

Mr Osman, meanwhile, is critical of another council proposal to hand over control of Carlisle Renaissance to a board dominated by the private sector. He said: “Of the nine members only two will be elected councillors.

“If you get fed up of a councillor you can vote them out. You can’t do that with this board.”

Cumbria County Council’s Carlisle local committee shares his concerns.

The committee, made up of all county councillors from Carlisle, voted by a majority this week not to endorse the city’s new economic strategy. This calls for substantial population growth over the next 20 years.

Labour councillors in particular voiced doubts about the Renaissance board.

Labour group leader Stewart Young said: “To hand over spending of public money on this scale is unacceptable.”

Fellow Labour councillor Reg Watson added: “These people won’t necessarily be from Carlisle and won’t know what Carlisle needs. I believe it is anti democratic.”

JWhittle@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 10:37, Thursday, 07 February 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk