At the event held at the Wave Centre in the town, Allerdale Borough Council provided local residents and business owners details of their plans for the town.  
 
The Maryport Development Strategy aims to improve the town’s most popular areas, improve employment opportunities, support education providers and provide more housing to make the town even more attractive to live, as well as visit. 
 
Developed by Arup and commissioned by Allerdale Borough Council and BEC, the plan includes a number of key projects, such as creating a calendar of events to encourage visitors to the town, and improvements to the promenade and harbour. Other projects include making enhancements to the town centre, including the areas around Curzon Street and Senhouse Street bringing vacant units back into use and creating a more pedestrian friendly entrance to the town and linking the centre to the train station. 
 
The need for a regeneration scheme was identified in the Council’s Business Growth Plan, which highlighted Maryport as key priority. The plan also supports a range of further projects in the area that will focus on education, housing renewal, local attractions, signage, and town centre parking. There are also plans to work with partners to promote the town’s historic and heritage assets. Part of the project is to commit to the potential for a tidal lagoon off the coast. 
 
Presenting the plans were Cllr Mark Fryer, Deputy Leader and Executive member for Economic Growth and Anne-Marie Cowperthwaite, Associate Director at Arup. Also speaking was Professor Frank Peck, Research Professor in Regional Development at the University of Cumbria who gave an overview of how coastal economies are performing, and Ian Hinde, the Council’s Policy Officer (Scrutiny and Partnerships) on the Council’s plans to submit a response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Seaside Towns and Communities.  
 
Graeme Wilson, the Council’s Head of Service who is leading the project was also available to answer any questions about the plans.   
 
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Fryer said: “This plan is not just about making Maryport an even better place to live and to visit, it’s about working with its communities to build a plan that benefits everyone. It’s an incredibly exciting and ambitious project, but it’s one we are committed to delivering, and by working in partnership with the people of Maryport and through strong leadership I am confident we will start seeing these changes very soon.” 
 
Ann-Marie Cowperthwaite said: “Working together to create this plan has been key, and one of the highlights has been the residents’ belief that Maryport’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. We wanted to make the most of town’s current developments and make them even better, and the involvement and commitment from the people of Maryport will be what makes this project a success. The positivity of the town really shines through and this is something we have chosen to build on in the plan.” 
 
Full details of the plans can be found on the Council’s website: www.allerdale.gov.uk 
 
The Council will contribute funding to the project, as well as applying for grants from external sources, such as the Coastal Communities Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England. It is also hoped the improvements will encourage businesses in the town centre to invest in their own properties.  
 
There is a phased timetable for the projects with many able to begin immediately, whilst others require significant capital investment and preparatory work to get under way. However it is hoped all of the improvements will be in place within the next decade.  
 
The plans were agreed by the Council’s Executive in May this year after extensive consultation with local residents, businesses and interested parties on the plans.