A TOWN group has called for action to halt "inappropriate shop signage and deteriorating shop frontages".

Following the devastating 2009 floods in Cockermouth, a joint scheme was run between the civic trust, Allerdale Council and others to improve the town centre and make it ‘better than before the flood’.

Grants were awarded towards improving shop frontages and standards agreed for future developments and modifications.

In a letter to Allerdale chief executive Andrew Seekings, Phil Campbell, chairman of Cockermouth Civic Trust, said: "We believe that the improvement scheme was extremely successful with the achievement of four national awards.

"Now more than 10 years on, the civic trust is concerned that standards have been slipping and, perhaps due to staffing pressures and the effects of the pandemic, the borough council have not been as rigorous in enforcement as they might have been.

"This is to the detriment of our civic pride and our gem town status.

"Examples include inappropriate shop signage and deteriorating shop frontages."

The trust wants to work with the council and identify and agree the current key issues.

Mr Campbell suggested a walk around town.

"We understand that you now have a newly appointed planning manager and planning compliance officer and it is perhaps opportune for their involvement," he said.

"The walk round could be similar to the ‘Walks of Pride’ that we have undertaken jointly in previous years."

In the letter which he copied to the town council, in the hope they might also like to get involved, he said: "I am sure that it is in all of our interest to ensure that we have a town centre and Conservation Area where the heritage and architecture of the buildings are respected, whilst still providing for the needs of today."

Mr Seekings has replied and a walk is set to take place on May 20 with various officials, including the planning enforcement officer.

"Darren Ward, our architectural adviser, will lead from the civic trust perspective, but I and one or two others from the civic trust will be there as well," said Mr Campbell.

"The civic trust focus is to seek cooperation with Allerdale Council in maintaining the high standards in our town centre that we jointly achieved in the recovery after the 2009 flood and highlighting through the walkabout where we think things could be improved."