Last updated at 20:07, Thursday, 21 July 2011

A £1.3 million plan to upgrade Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre has been revealed.

The arts centre’s directors and staff are consulting with neighbours, the town council and local groups to gauge opinions about initial design ideas.

Proposals include the opening of a cafe, extending the bar and social areas, office space and box office, installation of up-to-date seating in the upstairs theatre, and the addition of meeting rooms for smaller groups and the introduction of soundproofing.

The board wants to submit a planning application to Allerdale council in the autumn.

A grant has been given by the Communitybuilders Fund to pay for a feasibility study and consultation exercise, and the board will spend the next few months working on a campaign, which could include applications for funding.

Kate Hilton, development manager, said: “The project is still in the very early stages and we are consulting with the public and other groups in the town. There are certain areas we feel are no longer serving their purpose.

“We ultimately want this process to allow the Kirkgate Centre to stand on its own two feet and improve the space for the groups that use it.”

The building was converted from the former All Saints School in the early 1990s.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 21 July 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk