CARLISLE'S declining city centre, with its growing number of empty units, will be highlighted at a public meeting next week.

Councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent Group) is due to ask a question at Tuesday's (January 16) meeting of Cumberland Council.

In his question Cllr Betton will highlight a number of businesses which have closed in recent years including high profile closures such as WILKO and Debenhams.

He will ask: "Carlisle city centre trade is dying with many long-standing empty properties which have never been reoccupied for business use again, for example Bulloughs, Debenhams and Poundstretcher and more recently WILKO, other shop units remain empty on Scotch Street, English Street, the Lanes, and Botchergate.

News and Star: Cllr Robert Betton Cllr Robert Betton (Image: Newsquest)

"Listening to local business people they say it is because of the high business rates and rents coupled with more people shopping on the Internet.

"What is Cumberland Council going to do to help small businesses open and survive not only in Carlisle but the rest of our town centres in Cumberland where shop uptake is reducing and more town centre businesses are closing?"

Carlisle Wilko's store was located in Market Hall in the city centre and closed its doors on Tuesday, October 3, when the shop's 29 employees gathered for the final time.

The decision came after the retail chain fell into administration due to declining consumer spending and supplier debts.

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Speaking at the time manager Maria Hay, who has worked at the store for 14 years, said: "We were open 24 years and have some team members who worked there the whole time. After 24 years it feels like a family and it gets quite emotional."

Shoppers bid a fond farewell to Carlisle's Debenham's store which has closed for the final time on May 12, 2021.

The retail chain had been one of the casualties of the Covid-19 lockdown and the store in the Lanes Shopping Centre, and West Tower Street, reopened only to sell off its remaining stock in the weeks ahead of the closure.

Debenhams announced 52 store closures on May 8 of that year, including the Workington store, and at the time a spokesman for the retailer said: “Over the next 10 days, Debenhams will close its doors on the high street for the final time in its 242-year history."

Tuesday's meeting at the Civic Centre in Carlisle is due to start at 1pm.