Councillors in Carlisle have spoken of their excitement at the new direction they hope to take the city centre's open space.

Carlisle City Council is in the final stages of the application for the Future High Street Fund, which will release money from central Government in order to finance projects to help enhance the attractiveness of town and city centre offers.

One aspect of this is set to be the creation of a new "public entertainment space" in the city centre.

This will not however mean a return of the bandstand, which had been a feature of the city centre from 2002 until 2017, when it was removed after it was deemed to need repairs costing £20,000.

The city council's portfolio holder for economy, enterprise and housing, councillor Paul Nedved, said he hoped the plans being put in place would move the city centre in a new direction.

"The Market Square is part of the Future High Street Fund application, which is exceptionally well advanced now," he said, adding that the final submission will be presented to Government before the end of this month.

Mr Nedved said that part of the plans involved the creation of a more adaptable public performance space than could be achieved with new permanent bandstand.

"I don't think the bandstand is the sort of thing we're looking for nowadays," he said.

"A bandstand has a very specific use. For a modern city centre, it hasn't got that adaptability that you need.

"I think what we're looking for is an active, public entertainment space."

Mr Nedved said the council had been in discussion with city centre businesses, as well as residents and visitors, about the future direction performances in the city centre should take.

"I think the general feeling talking to people is that we need more of a moveable solution," he said.

"Something that could have a number of uses, throughout the year.

"We are hoping to have arts and entertainments events there on a very regular basis, crucially with access to power points.

"We want to put in place the infrastructure to host temporary pop up events as well."

Mr Nedved added that this was to be part of a wider makeover of the market square area.

"We are looking to replace the tired bollards and benches round there as well, and perhaps a small boulevard of trees as well."

The hope, Mr Nedved said, is that a broader range of events could be brought to the city centre, from pop up cinema screenings to potentially an ice rink in the winter.

"These are things that we haven't been able to do in the past," Mr Nedved said.

One Carlisle resident who has been disappointed that the bandstand has not been reinstated in the city centre is David Bell, a longstanding member of The Cliff Eland Big Band, as well as the Border Concert Band.

Having been a regular performer at the bandstand for many years, Mr Bell hoped that the future direction for performances in the city centre included regular opportunities for local performers to entertain.

"The bandstand was there for all sorts of small local groups to use, and could be accessed all year round," he said.

"It brought business to the city centre.

"I think a permanent bandstand with shelter and power would suit the needs of Carlisle the best, so that all local acts would have access for at least nine months of the year."

Mr Bell said there is a wide range of both musical and theatre acts who would be keen to perform for city centre crowds, particularly at weekends.

"There's a lot of local theatre groups and bands from across the area that want to perform in the city centre," he said.

"Brass bands will come from across the border from the likes of Annan, even from the north east.

He added that he hoped performances would be held in the city centre each weekend.

"A lot of people go to town just for the music, to enjoy it perhaps while their partner is shopping.

"I hope the focus isn't on large one-off events, and more on lots of smaller events."