WORK is pressing ahead on an ambitious project to transform a coastal lagoon into an inspiring visitor attraction.
Work has been progressing on the plans and designs for different aspects of the Millom Iron Line project.
The Iron Line is a proposal to transform the coastal lagoon into a visitor attraction and reactivate heritage buildings to enhance Millom Town Centre by bringing derelict, vacant and underused buildings back into active use.
Activating community health is the creation of a new, multi-purpose community and leisure hub to provide a range of facilities and Connected Millom and Haverigg will improve Millom’s transport network.
The Iron Line is one of four projects which are part of the Town Deal and is being led by Copeland Borough Council and the Millom Town Deal Board. Together the Towns Fund projects aim to drive future inclusive economic growth in Millom.
A spokesman for the project said the plans, along with the other Town Deal projects are progressing nicely. The latest ideas, plans and costings are currently being considered by the UK Government.
Working with Copeland Borough Council, the Millom Town Deal Board secured an offer of £20.6 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative last summer.
PLACED is an independent social enterprise who are part of the design team set up to engage with the community on the developing design for The Iron Line.
Between late January and May 2022, the group heard from more than 400 people who shared their views on various aspects of the emerging ideas for the Iron Line and contributed to shaping the plans.
Some of the areas of concern raised were protecting nature, management of vehicles, transport connections and building and structure designs which have all been addressed by the team.
A spokesman for PLACED said: “To ensure proposals are appropriate to Hodbarrow and the areas of ecological protection, the design team has had regular meetings with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (site owners) and Natural England (Government advisers on the natural environment). These conversations will continue into the next stage to make sure plans and designs are suitable for the site and meet legal environmental protections.
“In the interest of inclusive access and promotion of sustainable travel, a new surface will make the route level and more robust for pedestrians, cyclists and horses. Vehicles cannot be prohibited but will be discouraged by introducing pinch points at entrances and signs to redirect motorists towards formal car parking.
“The design team have opened dialog with the local highway authority to understand the existing road and public transport network and discuss the probable requirements of a future planning application.
“Hodbarrow Beacon (the stone lighthouse) will be conserved and access to the base of the structure improved. The windmill will be reinstated as a landmark with the stonework sensitively restored and a timber insert added to restore the shape of the windmill.
“The welcome building will provide core services and facilities for visitors including toilets, a Changing Places facility, café, educational and/or cultural spaces. It also has the opportunity to provide storage and be a base for volunteering or educational visits.
“The building will be fully accessible, welcoming and offer shelter, whilst being rooted in the landscape.”
Work will continue on the project and the next steps for community engagement will begin again in early 2023.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here