By Julian Whittle

Published at 11:43, Monday, 21 July 2008

SAVE Our Streets campaigners have welcomed a pledge to review the Renaissance plans to reshape Carlisle.

Bryan Gray

The group was formed to oppose the demolition of homes as part of a redevelopment of Rickergate.

Now Bryan Gray, chairman of the new Carlisle Renaissance board, has hinted those plans will be shelved.

He wants a reappraisal of Renaissance, which was launched as a response to the 2005 floods.

And he says any proposals must have public support.

“That stops you getting into sterile arguments about knocking things down,” Mr Gray said. “Why are we arguing about something that may never happen because it’s not sensible?”

Save Our Streets met Mr Gray last week.

Secretary Elizabeth Allnutt said: “We are still a little sceptical but we think his comments about not imposing things on people and taking time to get things right are excellent. He seems to want to get back to first base, which is very good.”

Carlisle MP Eric Martlew has been a long-standing critic of the slow pace of Renaissance. He too accepts Mr Gray’s argument that a rethink is necessary.

But he said: “They haven’t got a long time to reassess.

The Labour opposition on Carlisle City Council called for a rethink before the May elections. Group leader Michael Boaden is encouraged by Mr Gray’s stance.

He said: “I agree with him and hope this does finally mean an end to the current proposals for Rickergate.

“It is time to bring an end to that threat, which the council has kept going despite all the opposition.”

The council’s leader, Conservative Mike Mitchelson, denied there had been firm proposals to knock down buildings in Rickergate.

He said: “There were suggestions, no detailed plans.”

Mr Mitchelson is one of two council representatives on the board chaired by Mr Gray. He added: “We are looking at strengthening the city-centre offer.”

Stewart Young, the opposition Labour leader on Cumbria County Council, also praised Mr Gray’s intervention.

The board has identified four “transformational actions” – a riverside campus for the University of Cumbria, maximising the potential of the “historic quarter” by the cathedral, creating employment sites near the M6 and strengthening the city centre.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk