In preparation for a packed programme of events this winter, work will get underway to remove the temporary pop-up park.

The pop-up park is in Carlisle city centre’s Greenmarket.

The pop-up park has been in place in the Greenmarket since the Spring and was widely used during open-air events - including International Markets which attracted thousands of visitors, but was also subject to a significant amount of criticism from Carlisle residents and visitors.

The items that made up the temporary installation were designed and procured in such a way that they could be re-used elsewhere in the city centre or on council green spaces as required.

The planters and seats will be used as part of a public realm improvement project in Bitts Park, and other items will be stored for future uses.

The Greenmarket area will be closed to the public for approximately two weeks to allow the site to be reinstated to the original block paved surface in agreement with the highways authority, Cumbria County Council.

Carlisle residents and businesses will be asked to have their say on how the city centre’s Market Square and Greenmarket could look in the future later this year.

A public consultation is planned and follows on from the stage-one consultation held in the summer.

Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council are working together to deliver a re-imagined public square that the city council says puts people first, prioritising pedestrian movement and encouraging residents, workers, and visitors to stay longer in the city centre, bringing new leisure and cultural uses to the heart of Carlisle.

The project is part of a wider city centre plan which includes investment in the Citadel, Caldew Riverside and Carlisle Railway Station.

Together with the Market Square and the Greenmarket, these projects aim to rejuvenate the city centre and improve the visitor experience.

This funding for this project is provided by the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

£2.7million is available to deliver the scheme with the aim to implement works by March 2024.

The Greenmarket is a focus for the events programme which includes the Remembrance commemorations in November and also festive events.

The city centre’s Christmas Tree will be installed in the Greenmarket in advance of the Christmas Lights Switch on Sunday, November 20, and the city centre Christmas Market between December 2 and 11. 

Open daily, the market will feature over 40 Alpine-style chalets selling a wide range of gifts, crafts, food and drink.

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