By Julian Whittle Political editor

Published at 12:20, Thursday, 10 April 2008

PRESSURE is mounting on Carlisle City Council to rethink its Renaissance proposals for Rickergate.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

A Government inspector yesterday gave the green light to the principle of redevelopment.

But Patrick Whitehead, who chaired the public inquiry into the Carlisle Local Plan last summer, was scathingly critical of the council’s scheme.

He said the plans to bulldoze the Civic Centre, police and fire stations, magistrates court and homes in Warwick Street would have “serious consequences” for residents.

And he questioned the council’s ability to deliver the development.

Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for a rethink, as is the city’s Labour MP Eric Martlew.

He said: “The inspector has no faith in the council to deliver this scheme. That’s a sad indictment of the council but it’s true.

“Something has to be done in Rickergate. Perhaps we should be looking at urban regeneration and housing.”

The council wanted to sweep away existing buildings to make way for a plaza with shops, offices and a four-star hotel/conference centre.

The Save Our Streets group, which campaigned against the proposals, gave evidence at the public inquiry. Secretary Elizabeth Allnutt said they were “jubilant” at the outcome.

She added: “Our members feel they’ve won a big battle.

“They are hugely relieved, immensely proud of what they have achieved and feel their fight has been validated by the inspector’s report.

“However, they realise that the war may not be over.

“The group will continue to fight for their homes and community should any further proposals threaten them.”

Simon Osman, formerly a leading light in Save Our Streets, resigned from its executive to stand as an Independent in the May elections.

He said: “The council should think again. The inspector has been extremely critical of their ideas.

“He’s effectively saying there is no case for demolishing houses.

“The council should now produce a development brief based on Save Our Streets’ ‘option three’ to retain existing buildings.”

Council officials say the inspector’s report has not shut the door to their scheme, although he has ruled against the council’s proposal to designate Rickergate as a “regeneration area”.

But with Labour and Liberal Democrat members of the hung council calling for fresh plans to be tabled, it appears unlikely that the scheme as envisaged can go ahead.

The three Liberal Democrat councillors who represent the area all say that homes in Warwick Street should be retained.

Councillor Kimberley Hunter said: “I was devastated when Ilost my council house in Raffles [to redevelopment] and was devastated when they took it off me.

“I’d done lots of work on it and had a beautiful garden and they gave me three months notice to leave.

“If this means the houses in Rickergate are safe then I’m very pleased.

“The police and fire stations are beautiful buildings and they could become some sort of shopping complex for small independent shops.”

Councillor Jim Tootle said: “The council have been given a clear lead from the inspector’s report that they should go back to the drawing board.”

“There has been a lack of consultation with residents from day one. We should never be in this position.”

And Councillor Olwyn Luckley, who applied for buildings in Rickergate to be listed to protect them, said: “I’ve always supported the residents and I’m pleased the inspector has treated so carefully the case they put.”

Opinion: Page 12

JWhittle@cngroup.co.uk

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