Last updated at 12:14, Tuesday, 21 August 2012

CARLISLE’S old fire station could be used to help new businesses develop, city council leader Joe Hendry has revealed.

Speaking during a News & Star webchat, the Labour leader said the council was in the very early stages of ‘investigations’ into the Rickergate base which has been standing empty since the fire service moved out.

He repeated promises to local residents that Rickergate ‘will remain as an urban village’ and also said the city needed “high quality executive homes” to attract managers and skilled staff.

Mr Hendry said he and council colleagues were working hard with the business community and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage inward investment to the city.

“Part of the regeneraton of any city is to build local houses that meet local needs,” he said.

“There is a desperate need in Carlisle and the surrounding areas for affordable housing and social housing for rent.

“We also need high quality executive homes to attract the senior managers and highly skilled staff that new industries would bring to Carlisle.”

The idea of a business use for the old fire station was raised last month by Marcie Bowman-Scott, who runs Estillo hair salon in neighbouring Corporation Road.

She said they had “been in limbo since 2005” and said she wanted to see the fire station facade retaine, with units for start-ups and small businesses behind.

Mr Hendry could not reveal any detail of the plans, which he said were in initial stages.

The council leader also said he was hopeful the city centre was “beginning to turn the corner as far as retail shopping is concerned”.

He said recent events had created “a real buzz”, particularly at weekends, and recognised the need to
create social opportunities to encourage visitors and shoppers.

“We have demonstrated with the Olympic Torch, music in the city and especially entertainment in the city centre at the weekend that we need to make Carlisle much more events conscious,” he said.

“I believe that both the Olympic Torch and the forthcoming Tour of Britain cycle race will demonstrate to the wider world that we can handle such events very well indeed and as I have said many times, Carlisle is open for business. I agree very much that we need a series of annual events which are calendared year by year in order to allow both Carlisle people and visitors to sign up to these."

See yesterday's webchat in full click here 

First published at 12:13, Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com