A former high-profile Labour city councillor has criticised what she calls ‘the debacle of Tribe Carlisle’.
Elsie Martlew called the current situation ‘an absolute disgrace’ and criticised the council for going ahead with the project in the first place.
Barely a year after opening, the Tribe Community Interest Company (CIC), which ran the site, entered voluntary liquidation and has now ceased trading - though some businesses continue to operate at the site.
“Carlisle’s Conservative council ploughed ahead with proposals for a container park in Bitts Park adjacent to the castle,” said Mrs Martlew.
“They used £150k of taxpayer’s money to assemble a number of shipping containers saying that it would ‘create a temporary vibrant business hub that would make an immediate impact and support economic recovery.’”
“Well, it certainly was temporary, as less than a year down the line it has been locked up and abandoned.”
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Mrs Martlew also said that the park keeper’s lodge had fallen into disrepair and the money spent on Tribe should’ve turned the lodge into a ‘permanent hospitality hub before bemoaning the lack of public toilets.
“A prerequisite of Tribe Carlisle getting the contract was the provision of public toilets, which are now closed within the compound.”
“We have the city’s premier children’s play area, within the city’s premier park, without any public toilets. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
In response to Mrs Martlew’s damning claims, a Carlisle City Council spokesperson said: “The Government money secured for Tribe was ringfenced for projects that supported the local economy post-Covid and could not be allocated for general maintenance of Bitts Park (including infrastructure such as buildings) or other council-owned sites.
“Although the site was always intended to be temporary, it is disappointing that the community interest company managing the site has gone into liquidation and has ceased trading.
“We are now following due legal process to obtain possession of the site.
"The future operation of the site, including public toilet facilities within the park, are being considered by the council.”
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