By Sarah Newstead

Last updated at 16:35, Thursday, 07 February 2008

SAVE Our Streets campaigners are demanding the council face the public and give them their say about Carlisle’s Renaissance proposals.

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The group, which is fighting plans to demolish homes in Warwick Street as part of the redevelopment of Rickergate, claims Renaissance plans are being pushed through without proper public consultation.

Activists were planning a demonstration outside the Civic Centre today ahead of a Carlisle City Council meeting where the management of the scheme, with the promise of £160m of private investment to transform the face of Carlisle, will be discussed.

It is proposed to hand over control of Renaissance to a board made up of members from the city and county councils, Northwest Development Agency, Cumbria Vision, and local businesses.

But SOS chairman, Neil Irving claims the community is not represented and public consultation has so far been a “bit of a sham”.

He believes the majority of residents across the city are opposed to bulldozing Rickergate.

Mr Irving said: “There’s not much trust in the council.

“We are saying they don’t want the public to be consulted because the people of Carlisle do not want this.”

It was announced last month that schemes to redevelop Rickergate and Viaduct Estate were unlikely to start until 2010.

Renaissance was launched following the 2005 floods and pledged to create 3,000 jobs and transform the face of Carlisle.

Plans for Rickergate also involve the demolition of the Civic Centre, police and fire stations, and magistrates court.

Shops, offices, and a luxury hotel could take their place. SOS believe homes on Corporation Road, Dixon Street, Peter Street and Clifford Street, could also be under threat of compulsory purchase.

Secretary Elizabeth Allnutt added: “SOS members started by saving Rickergate. They now feel they are saving our city.”

The group are demanding that a “well publicised” meeting be held in The Sands Centre

Mr Irving said: “This is about democracy and accountability.”

Council leader, Mike Mitchelson, was “very disappointed” with the statements from SOS.

“Not least because we have taken a lot of time and effort in engaging with the SOS group over the last two years,” he said.

“There has been a full-scale public consultation.”

He also said the council wished homes in Corporation Road and Peter Street to remain.

Mr Mitchelson said that some positions on the Renaissance management board would be open to anyone.

A public inquiry into the Carlisle Local Plan began last July and will report next month, outlining what type of development could be built on the site.

First published at 11:09, Monday, 04 February 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk