Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 07 August 2008

TWO OF Maryport’s landmark buildings are being revamped to inject new life into the town.

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The Carlton Cinema, on the corner of Curzon Street and Senhouse Street, is due to open in the next two months as a ceramics factory and cafe, creating 15 new jobs.

And work on the Golden Lion, which became a major eyesore in the town, could start within weeks, said new owner Philip Cueto this week.

Both projects are being helped by Allerdale council’s Maryport Townscape Heritage Initiative.

Steve Wood has moved his bespoke ceramics company from Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, to the former cinema.

Mr Wood and his wife Andi said it was hoped that the project would be ready within a couple of months. It will ultimately create 15 new jobs.

There will be a place where people can paint their own ceramics, and a viewing gallery where they can watch ceramics being fired.

The rest of the building will operate as a ceramics company, providing products to customers including the Cunard Line, the Royal Yacht Britannia, St Andrews, Gleneagles and the De Vere Group.

Mr Cueto, a well known newsagent in the town, said that work on the £1.2 million restoration of the Golden Lion, the town’s most historic building, could start within weeks.

“We have now had all the planning permission, the tenders are in and are just waiting for heritage funding to come through and we will get under way,” he said.

Meanwhile, hairdresser Tony Marks is about to open a new salon on Curzon Street and was helped by the heritage initiative.

It will be the ninth Tony Marks salon in Cumbria and will be managed by 21-year-old Sophie Ray, who has been with the company since she was 16. It will open on September 1.

Launched in 2007, the townscape heritage initiative is a five-year plan to improve Maryport, preserve its heritage and attract new business.

Allerdale’s heritage initiative officer, Joe Broomfield, said: “There are some fabulous traditional properties in Maryport, many of which have fallen into disrepair.

“The initiative will help give these properties a new lease of life and improve the quality of the local built environment for everybody.

“The renovation of key buildings such as the Golden Lion Hotel and the Carlton will have a positive impact on Maryport.”

It has also resulted in training courses in traditional building repair skills, and next month a free seminar will be held for local home owners to enable them to learn about appropriate maintenance and repairs for traditional properties.

An art gallery has also recently opened on Senhouse Street.