COUNCIL endorsement has been given to plans to develop a north Cumbrian town, bringing them one step closer to agreement.

Carlisle City Council’s executive has endorsed the Longtown Place Plan at a meeting held on Wednesday, January 18.

The plan will now go to the Borderlands Place Programme Board in late February.

Over May, June and July 2022, all residents and businesses of the Longtown area were invited to contribute to the co-production of a Longtown Place Plan in a series of five community workshops.

These workshops asked residents about their opinions of Longtown and what they thought Longtown needed to improve.

The purpose of the plan is, according to the council, to draw together a wide range of ideas that can be delivered and prospectively attract funding from future sources. The plan is supported by the availability of up to £3million of Borderlands funding to be spent on capital projects that can help develop the local economy.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr John Mallinson, said: “We’re pleased to support the Longtown Place Plan.

“It is still a draft document, and we welcome any further comments.

“I would like to thank all those that drew the document together.

“It will provide the foundations for future improvements within the town.”

A community-ran group called the Longtown Development Team has been set up to help promote, manage and deliver the plan.

Community volunteers are invited to join to help make this initiative successful.

The funding of capital projects comes from the £452million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal signed in March 2021.

The growth deal was signed between the UK and Scottish governments and the five councils of the Borderlands Partnership made up of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council.

Carlisle City Councillor for Longtown, Tim Pickstone, said: “The first thing to say is a huge thank you to all the local people who have contributed so much to such an exciting and ambitious document. 

“Longtown desperately needs the investment that the Borderlands Growth Deal will bring to the town.

“As the Plan says, there are some things which need to improve, and the plan sets these out and moves Longtown forwards. 

“The challenge now will be to turn these good ideas into actions that the people of Longtown can see and can benefit from.”

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