CHURCH leaders fear that a recent round of parking changes in Carlisle city centre will make life difficult for parishioners who want to go to mass.

Officials from the Salvation Army in Abbey Street raised the concern as they joined organisations and businesses in a meeting with Cumbria County Council’s Castle ward councillor Alan McGuckin on Monday afternoon.

They discussed the latest round of parking changes in Carlisle’s Historic Quarter, which were implemented at the end of last month.

The changes will see a reduction in the number of parking spaces for visitors, which the Salvation Army fears will hit visitors to their centre.

Some of those who attended the meeting said they were told that Cumbria County Council was unlikely to look again at the parking provision in the area in the near future, having held consultations between 2016 and 2018.

“It does worry us greatly,” explained the leader of the Salvation Army in Carlisle, Melanie Scoulding, 61, as she outlined how church-goers will be affected by the new parking regime.

“They are going to get a [parking[ ticket for coming to church. We’ve done everything we possibly can [to raise concerns].

“We’ve met and spoken with officers, but the decision that has been made doesn’t seem to be balanced.

“We are so blessed being in this lovely part of the city; it is beautiful. If we want it to be a vibrant city we need a range of things.”

Mrs Scoulding said the organisation is not against providing residential parking for residents. “The council is right trying to find a balance, but everybody’s needs have to be met. This is affecting us disproportionately.”

The meeting with Mr McGuckin was at the Cumbria Tech shop on Castle Street. “It was good to have that meeting; it was a good opportunity to voice our concerns,” continued Mrs Scoulding. “It gave us an opportunity to explain some of the issues affecting us.”

Following the meeting on Monday, the affected businesses set up a Facebook page called Carlisle Historic Quarter Business Association, which aims to ‘make their opinions heard in the local area’. The page was set up by Sean Wright, owner of Cumbria Tech on Castle Street.

Mr Wright said: “Mr McGuckin said nothing will be done for the next year; they have made the decision. It is another year before they’ll even look at it”

Cumbria County Council said it carried out comprehensive public consultation between 2016 and 2018, and this was widely advertised, and included public drop-in sessions.

They received more than 100 responses and after feedback and consideration, the Carlisle Local Committee approved the changes in March.