BUSINESSES and locals have reacted to the new £50,000 'pop-up' park in Carlisle's popular shopping district. 

The new temporary park, located in the Greenmarket adjacent to the Old Town Hall, will, according to the council, 'provide opportunities for individuals and families to relax, eat, drink and socialise whilst in the city centre with additional seating, artificial grass and planting'.

Despite this, both residents and the businesses adjacent to the park have been critical of the new greenspace, vying that the money from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) could have been better spent elsewhere. 

READ MORE: Store staff help bring repeat shoplifter to justice

Owner of Brewed Awakenings, Carol Crawford, said: "There's a huge amount of people taking selfies with it, so there's definitely some interest. 

"People seem to like it which is great but people we've been talking to have been asking why we couldn't have the bandstand back instead, it's just a shame because the bandstand would be permanent opposed to the park being pulled up again in September," she said. 

Carol also questioned the future fate of the park due to the increasing spate of seagulls and vandalism within the area. 

Catherine Bell of Espresso Hub, said: "It's ridiculous and a waste of money, it won't be doing us any favours." 

Chris Archibald, owner of La Baguette Bar, who has been operating in Carlisle for 25 years, said: "Don't get me wrong, it looks nice but for us to have a policy which means you lose the money if you don't spend it by April 1, it's prehistoric." 

Residents around the park on its unveiling day were of a similar mind.  

Alex Green, 24, from the Botcherby area, said: "It's really nice to look at but, couldn't the money have been spent on something a bit more important and useful to everyone."

A local Carlisle woman, who was also in advocacy of the bandstand, said if she was quoted that price for her garden, she would want a 'summer house'. 

"So if it's getting torn up, are we not going to have anything in the Winter when everyone gets depressed and needs uplifting," she said. 

The resident also touched upon areas in which she felt the money could have been better spent such as the elevator service within The Lanes Shopping Centre. 

Mr Price, a Cumbrian resident who was visiting the area at the time, said: "I'm not from Carlisle but I think it's lovely, I haven't seen a kid walk past without running over to play with the animals. 

"And to be honest, I don't think it's too out of the way for the cost, you can tell the stone is of an expensive material," he said.

A spokesperson from Carlisle City Council responded to the reaction: "The new temporary site provides additional seating for shoppers and visitors to the city. It is already in use and is in place in advance of the Easter International Market which attracts thousands of visitors to the city.

"The funding to set up the site came from government. The Welcome Back Fund supported local authorities to develop plans for responding to the medium-term impact of Covid-19 including trialling new ideas particularly where these relate to the High Street. 

"The funding could only be used for non-permanent public realm adaptations to boost the look and feel of the high streets," they said. 

The council also indicated that the temporary installation has been designed and sought in such a way that can be re-used elsewhere within the city. 

A temporary CCTV camera with coverage of the new facility is also included within the scheme.

The European Regional Development Fund allocated up to £96,000 of funding to Carlisle City Council, which also lead to supporting the Hawker’s Market last year and a temporary business online support hub.

READ MORE: Questions asked about 'value for money' in Carlisle pop-up park plan

READ MORE: New £50,000 'pop-up' park unveiled in Carlisle's Greenmarket