A NEARLY £17m plan that would change the face of Maryport is one step closer to fulfilment.

This week the Allerdale executive backed the business case which means it can now be submitted to the Government’s Future High Street Fund.

If successful, the scheme could result in a four-year programme of works up to a value of more than £16.7m, which would support the transformation of Maryport town centre.

Various areas of the town would be improved, including revamping the Wave Centre, bringing The Carleton building back into use and converting Christ Church into museum/gallery space.

Should the funding bid be approved there would also be improvements made to the public realm areas of the town, such as widening footpaths and installing more seating areas, the creation of a space for a market and community activities and help to address the number of empty units in the town centre.

Allerdale deputy leader Mike Johnson moved the report and said: “As I mentioned earlier in the meeting, the Government is creating opportunities for areas such as ours to progress our economic ambitions.

“Maryport has been presented with this opportunity and I am excited by the shape our programme is taking and I hope that the people of Maryport are to.

“As a council it is vitally important we ensure they are places that people want to visit even as the nature of the high street changes.

“I am hugely excited by this opportunity for Maryport and I would like to thank the team for their hard work in getting us to this point.”