CAMPAIGNERS for a beloved heritage asset, which has an uncertain fate, will pitch to city council officers for a share of funding.

The Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths have written to council leader John Mallinson and MP John Stevenson calling for the James Street facility to be included in the city’s Investment Plan.

£4.1 million is set to enter the city from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and how it will be spent in Carlisle will be informed by an Investment Plan drawn-up by the council.

READ MORE: Campaigners attend Carlisle City Council meeting in bid to save Turkish Baths

A campaign group for the 138 year-old wellbeing facility on James Street has been given the opportunity to attend a meeting on Wednesday June 8 to pitch for a share of the Government funding.  

A spokesperson for Carlisle City Council said: "A workshop with a range of partners will be held next week. This will set out the Shared Prosperity Fund process.

“Everyone attending has been sent a link to the prospectus and the intention is to get everyone together, set out the background and ask partners to clearly demonstrate why their project deserves to be in the plan and what benefits and value for money it could achieve."

Carlisle’s Turkish Health Suite on James Street is set to close in September when the redevelopment of the Sands Centre is complete and swimming provision is moved to the newly refurbished venue. The 1970s pool building adjacent to the baths will at that point be demolished.

Campaigners are fighting to see the baths stay open as long as possible. They have also proposed a series of redevelopments including the development of a community laundry.

The meeting with officers next week is believed to be a chance to ensure the baths remain a health and wellbeing asset to residents.

READ MORE: Councillors and campaigners hope for rescue and restoration of Carlisle’s Turkish Baths

Chair of the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths, Julie Minns said: "We think our Vision for Carlisle’s Baths is tailormade for the Shared Prosperity Fund. It meets three of the four objectives for the Fund as set out by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities and supports several of the missions that make-up the Government’s Levelling-Up strategy.

"The Government’s Levelling-Up targets include narrowing the gap in Healthy Life Expectancy between local areas where it is highest and lowest, and improving wellbeing in every area of the UK. Carlisle has a higher-than-average number of residents with physical and mental health issues, and a lower-than-average life expectancy.

"Therefore, investing in a facility whose sole purpose is to support health and wellbeing is the obvious thing to do if you are serious closing the gap between cities like ours and more prosperous parts of the country."