Re-making history
Last updated 19:28, Thursday, 24 January 2008
The Cathedral has withstood centuries of warfare and the wear and tear of the traffic of time. Founded in 1122 it has witnessed Reivers and Jacobites, the march of army battalions and the trundle of carriages and cars.
Now the statues of saints Peter, Paul, James and John will be watching over another transformation of the city as part of the multi-million pound Carlisle Renaissance.
It is a bid to reclaim the area known as the ‘Carlisle Historic Core’ for pedestrians and limit the amount of traffic in the area, while boosting economic and tourism aspects of the city centre.
The scheme, a joint effort by the county and city councils, has been prompted by the steady increase in traffic in the area, as motorists ‘patrol’ round the narrow streets in search of a parking space and disabled blue badge holders park along double yellow line areas.
The plan to reduce traffic and parking has surprised many, been welcomed by some and has worried others.
The letters pages of The Cumberland News and our sister paper, The News & Star have been peppered with correspondence on the project since the start of the New Year.
About 250 people attended the consultation meetings at the Old Town Hall during December and January, and so far the city council has received more than 100 letters on the subject.
Cathedral Dean, the Very Reverend Mark Boyling, is one who fears the new scheme could damage and disrupt life at the city centre landmark.
He welcomed plans to improve the area and as chairman of the Carlisle Cultural Heritage Group, is in contact with planners.
But he is concerned that new restrictions could hit the number of visitors and reduce the amount of money it brings in, which is vital to its upkeep.
Planners say changes have to be made to the area which could be uncomfortable to some.
But any short term pain will be for long term gain.
The £840,000 project for a restricted traffic zone includes scrapping the disc parking scheme in Castle Street, Fisher Street, Finkle Street and Abbey Street.
There would no longer be any parking in the Cathedral grounds part of Castle Street, or in St Mary’s Gate.
These roads, and part of Fisher Street, would be closed to all traffic, except delivery vans at certain times of the day.
Traffic would flow one way along Fisher Street, Annetwell Street, Paternoster Row and Abbey Street.
On-street parking spaces along these routes would only be reserved for residents, special permit and disabled badge holders.
The one-way traffic would exit the restricted zone along the West Walls.
And St Mary’s Gate and parts of Castle Street and Fisher Street would close to traffic except delivery vans at certain times of the day.
The blueprint also includes sandstone paving in Castle Street and wider pavements to allow continental-style outdoor cafés, while trees would channel views towards the castle.
The scheme would mean an end to disabled blue badge holders parking on the double yellow lines outside the Cathedral, though this may lead to parking on yellow lines along other nearby roads.
Reducing car parking spaces in the neighbourhood is a major concern.
Fewer parking bays would lead to more visitors having to park further from the historic quarter.
The closest main parking area is at Sally Port, West Walls but means negotiating a steep stone stairway down the wall that is a challenge for the fit and able-bodied, let alone the elderly or those with young children or buggies.
While many visitors to the Cathedral and neighbouring St Cuthberts church are not disabled, they are elderly and walking any distance can be uncomfortable.
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“The historic core of the city has a great deal to offer to both residents and visitors and better pedestrian access and experience are vital if the area is to be fully appreciated.
“But issues around access to the Cathedral and the Abbey are complex.
“The life of the Cathedral has many aspects to it and the published proposals raise significant issues for the Cathedral as it seeks to serve the city and Diocese and the 150,000 visitors it receives every year and endeavours to raise the necessary revenue to meet these responsibilities.
“We want the Cathedral to be a key attraction and lively venue both during the day and in the evening and we can’t ignore the need for suitable car parking and access arrangements to make this possible.”
Canon Richard Pratt, priest in charge of St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle also has concerns.
He fears that reducing car parking spaces would leave fewer available even for those with disabled parking permits.
And he has concerns that making the exit from the area one way along West Walls could transform the route into a “race track”.
He said: “The proposals as published do cause some concerns for St Cuthbert’s and there are issues of access for those who are elderly and need to be driven close to the church.
“I can understand the city’s aspirations to manage the traffic in the city centre.
“There is a sense that the whole of Castle Street, Fisher Street and Finkle Street is like a giant car park with cars just circling round, looking for a space.
“It does not show the city to its best advantage and it is not great from an environmental or pedestrian point of view.”
Rev Pratt stressed that he was not just representing the church but also businesses and residents in the affected area, adding: “If these proposals were fine for the church but not local businesses, it would still be an issue for me.”
Small business owners in the neighbourhood have already made their views known.
They agree that the area needs improving – but reckon this scheme could strangle their trade.
Stuart Goodman, partner at Chivers Sports in Abbey Street said losing car parking spaces would mean lost customers.
“Under this plan, they will just shift the disabled parking problem from Castle Street to here,” he warned.
“People could park at Devonshire Walk, across the dual carriageway but the lifts are always out of order.
“They say this plan will help make the city great but it will never be a great city unless they join the castle back to it again.
“I would block Castle Way off, then you would have a chance of making it a really great city.”
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“The possibility of losing customers during the work could be a death knell to small businesses,” she warned.
“I’m still ready and willing for something to happen and if it was right, I would be all for it.
“We need new pavements and new roads here but not like this.”
Major David Lennox looks out of the Carlisle Citadel of the Salvation Army on Abbey Street and fears for the future of local businesses if the scheme goes ahead.
He is concerned that a lack of on-street parking will reduce their customer numbers and his congregation.
Major Lennox and his family moved to Carlisle in the summer and he says there is little he would want to change about the city centre.
“I think it is lovely the way it is.
“I don’t think you would need to spend a lot of money to alter it.
“This way, they could create more problems than they solve.”
But Rev Pratt has faith that the planners will listen and the end result will be an improvement on the current situation.
“The city council has listened very carefully and we are confident they will continue to listen very carefully and amendments to the scheme will incorporate solutions to the issues raised,” he said.
“I don’t necessarily think that the scheme is fundamentally flawed.
“They just have to make enough tweaks to cope with the problems identified.”
Comments on the scheme may be made until January 31. Consultation papers may be dropped off at ballot boxes inside the Old Town Hall, Tullie House, the Civic Centre or Carlisle Library or be returned in freepost envelopes.
