The battle to secure control of Carlisle City Council has hit the high street.

Competing visions for the future of town and city centres in the district are on offer ahead of tomorrow’s election, expected to be a close-run contest.

Candidates for Labour and the Conservatives, the two largest parties vying for control of the council, have outlined how they plan to bolster business performance in the area’s population centres.

Colin Glover, standing for the Labour Party in the Currock and Upperby ward and the leader of the city council since July 2013, emphasised the importance of attracting fresh business.

“We’re doing a significant amount of work to get businesses to locate into the city centre,” Mr Glover said.

“The council had that success recently with Edinburgh Woollen Mill, bringing over 300 employees into the city centre.

“It is our priority is to encourage more businesses to do that.”

Should the Conservative Party retake control of the city council, the party has pledged to rejuvenate the Carlisle, Longtown and Brampton high streets with the introduction of a match-funded grant to renovate shop fronts.

Gareth Ellis, standing for the Conservatives in the Belah and Kingmoor ward in the north of the city, said the scheme would help “revive” the area’s commercial centres.

“It’s not about spending millions, but matching grants up to £5,000 with local businesses, landlords and tenants of units,” Mr Ellis said.

“We will introduce a grant to support business and landlords pound for pound to breathe new life into their shop fronts.”

Mr Ellis added that a similar scheme, Pride in Copeland introduced by elected mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie, had proven successful in Whitehaven.

“Mayor Starkie in Copeland has shown how successful this kind of cooperation can be, with areas of Whitehaven smartened up and transformed and made more welcoming.

“We want to do that here.”

Mr Glover was critical of the Conservative suggestion.

He said: “I’d be quite concerned if what the Conservatives are suggesting is Carlisle is quite run-down”.

The Conservative Party last week also proposed to introduce free city centre parking after 3pm, in a bid to promote greater footfall later in the day.

Commenting on the policy, Mr Ellis said this would encourage the growth of the food and leisure business options in the city centre, making the business landscape more diverse.

Mr Glover said Labour also hopes to diversify the city centre business landscape.

“We want to get more people living in the city centre, and improve the city as a place for events. This will improve footfall naturally, and help diversify what the city centre has to offer.”

  •  For a full list of candidates standing across each ward in the city council election, click here.