Businesses at Kingstown in Carlisle have hit out at an almost-complete deal that will see a private-sector partner help to run the industrial estate.

They complain of a lack of consultation from owner Carlisle City Council and say they want to be able to buy the freeholds of their premises.

The council began a search for a partner to help manage Kingstown and Parkhouse in 2014. Earlier this month it revealed it had a preferred bidder and is negotiating a contract.

The name of the partner has not been revealed.

The aim is to bring investment and “market expertise” to generate extra revenue for the council, which has not ruled out a rent rise for tenants.

This has raised concerns among businesses, who fear they could become “cash cows” as the local authority seeks to replace revenue lost in the Government’s austerity cuts.

Mark Blaylock, director of DD Fabrications in Blackdyke Road, which employs eight people, said: “No one has told us anything about a partner coming in or what the benefits or disadvantages would be.”

His firm has been based at Kingstown for 30 years and he said it did not “get anything for what we pay”.

He added: “Why didn’t they give us the opportunity to buy the freehold as individual businesses?

“We don’t want to be dictated to by a new landlord. If this is about increasing revenue for the council, how are they going to do that without raising rents?

“They are just treating Kingstown as a cash cow.”

His comments were echoed by Bryan Lloyd, managing director of Lloyd Motors, which has also been at Kingstown for 30 years and employs more than 200 people.

He argues that the money paid to the council in rent is not being reinvested in the industrial estate.


Les Tickner Councillor Les Tickner, the city council’s deputy leader, said the authority was appointing a partner to “ensure the prosperity and success of the estates” continued and that this benefitted the business, the council and the city.

He added: “We recognise the important role and contribution all our tenants and businesses play in making Kingstown and Parkhouse a success for the city. As part of the exercise to consider options and future arrangements for managing the estates all our tenants, interested parties and stakeholders were informed of the proposals and invited to comment, their observations have been fed into our considerations and the eventual outcome.

“When the appointment is finally approved, and our partner is in place, one of the first tasks for the new asset managers will be to make contact and actively engage with all our tenants, to understand their position and aspirations, so these can be fed into future business planning for the estates.”