CUMBERLAND Council is to repurpose the Tribe site in Bitts Park, Carlisle after almost two years of decline.
The temporary site, adjacent to the Bitts Park play area, was set up using government funding in 2021. Planning approval will expire at end of March 2026 and, with most units vacant, Cumberland Council is repurposing most of the industrial units.
They will be passed on to a variety of charitable organisations including The ReBuild Site CIC, Watchtree Wheelers and Northside Speedway, Workington.
The organisations are covering the transportation costs, and the council is in the process of drawing together an improvement plan for the site once the units have been removed on Friday, September 13.
The Tasty Greek, a takeaway café business popular with visitors to Bitts Park, will remain on the site, as will the public toilets.
The site opened in 2021 to great acclaim and despite a successful opening year, the operating company - Tribe Community Interest Company (CIC) - entered voluntary liquidation barely a year after opening.
The former operator, Joe Gardham, was contracted to run the site by the former Carlisle City Council upon its opening.
As well as the upgrades to the Tribe site, local artist Lydia Leith has been commissioned to spruce up the exterior of the Bitts Park lodge.
Lydia and her father, Paul Leith, have previously created murals for the subway entrance from Bitts Park to Hardwicke Circus.
The artwork is planned to improve the look of the building while the long-term plans for the site are being looked into.
After the 2015 floods, plans were drawn up to develop the lodge into a permanent facility for park users, including a cafe/bistro and public toilets, but plans did not develop further and campaigners have called on the council to ‘save’ the historic building.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: “Bitts Park has recently undergone a series of works, including the reopening of the tennis courts and a revamp of the site with hard and soft landscaping improvements.
“Plans are now being developed for the Tribe site.
"The container units were always intended to be temporary, and it is great to see that we have found new uses for them - to the benefit of local charitable organisations.
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“I’m also delighted that Lydia Leith has been commissioned to provide some artistic flair to the Bitts Park lodge building.”
Bitts Park car park will be closed on Friday, September 13 to support the movement of the industrial units.
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