North Allerdale
Asp
atria, Silloth and Wigton
North Allerdale is predominantly rural, with
small interspersed settlements and villages on the outskirts of the
three principle towns of Aspatria, Silloth and Wigton. The area is
made up of 32 parishes within 9 wards.
Wigton is the largest of the three rural towns
in North Allerdale and was the centre of a Norman barony in around
1100 A.D. The ancient market town of Wigton evolved within a
pre-medieval street plan that still can be traced today. The town
still has a largely unspoiled Georgian centre.
Aspatria was, historically, a centre of
agricultural excellence as it featured one of the first
Agricultural Colleges in Europe. Aspatria has a linear town centre,
running along the county's A596 trunk road.
Silloth is a purpose-built Victorian seaside
resort and is unique in the area as it features wide, tree-lined
cobbled streets and the largest green in the north of
England.
The North Allerdale Partnership
The three market towns have a long established
history and identity. In recent years, all three have suffered a
decline in their services and facilities, which has contributed to
a downward trend in their general prosperity. Through these and
other pressures the character, identity and sense of purpose of
these historic market towns has been under-threat.
The North Allerdale Partnership (NAP) came
together to address these issues collectively across the whole
area, whilst individual town partnerships worked on Action Plans
that could identify local issues and projects focussed mainly on
the town centres.
The NAP has a structure which is both
community-focused and community-led, and has involvement from a
range of interests ranging from business associations, to local
residents, to Voluntary Sector organisations.

Funding for NAP finished in Summer 2008.
North Allerdale Development Trust
North Allerdale Development Trust has since been formed and has
taken on aspects of the development role of the previous
organisation. View the
press release.